THE Gujarat Giants are on the board in 2024 after defeating the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Gujarat posted 5/199 from its 20 overs, before the Royal Challengers could only make 8/180.

The Giants’ success was largely thanks to their opening pair Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney. A 140 run opening partnership between the pair really set up the innings, and even though the runs dried up after that – so much so that they lost 3/6 at the end of the innings – that strong start set the foundation for a big score.

It was a rest of an innings for Mooney in particular, who really found some form that had been missing so far this season, and her 85 not out is now the highest individual score so far this season. Wolvaardt’s total was not too far behind, sashing 76 off 45 balls.

Meanwhile for Bangalore Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham were the only bowlers to pick up a wicket, with the other three dismissals all run outs.

In reply Bangalore made an okay start to its chase, but once the wickets started to tumble the floodgates began to open. Although the partnerships were not small, they were not big either so momentum was hard to achieve for the Royal Challengers. Most combinations were only about 20 to 30 runs big, and the fact the last three dismissals were all run outs shows the desperation and pressure the Royal Challengers were under.

Much of Bangalore’s runs came in the middle order, headed by Wareham’s 48 and Richa Ghosh’s 30.

Meanwhile Ash Gardner was the pick of the Gujarat bowlers with two wickets to her name, while Kathryn Bruce and Tanuja Kanwar picked up a wicket each. Wolvaardt also had a great day in the field, picking up two run outs.