THE Royal Challengers Bangalore have made it two from two to start their Women’s Premier League campaign with a comfortable eight-wicket win over the Gujarat Giants.

After restricting the Giants to a mere 7/107, Bangalore only needed 12 and a half overs to eclipse the tally.

Gujarat found itself a victim of regular wickets falling, with most partnerships not exceeding 15 to 20 runs. One brief boost saw Sneh Rana and Dayalan Hemalatha’s stance reach 25 runs, but that did not come until the seventh partnership and by then it was too late.

The Royal Challengers bowlers bowled reasonably tightly too – conceding only six extras – leaving little leeway for the Giants.

In another sign of how desperate the times were for the Giants, Hemalatha (31*), Rana (12) and Harleen Deol (22) were the only Giants batters to make a double-figure score.

Meanwhile for Bangalore, the pick of the bowlers were Sophie Molineux and Renuka Singh Thakur, who picked up three and two wickets respectively.

In response, Sophie Devine and Smriti Mandhana got Bangalore off to a fast start, going at 10 an over before Devine was dismissed. Mandhana and Meghana kept up that pace so by the time the former also fell, there was not too much left for the latter and Ellyse Perry to do.

Mandhana topped the runs tally for Bangalore with 43, while Meghana (36) and Perry (23) finished the innings unbeaten.

Meanwhile for the Giants, Ash Gardner and Tanuja Kanwar were the only ones to claim wickets.

Bangalore has a much tougher task up next, taking on Delhi, while the Giants have a strong chance next up to get their first win on the board when they play the UP Warriorz in a few days time.