Rosa Simkin (@rosatalksball) – 27/02/24
Date – 27/02/24
Time – 7:30pm (Local – GMT +5), 2:00pm (UK – GMT)
Location – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Where to Watch – Sports18 Network (Local), Sky Sports Mix (UK)
My Prediction – RCB Win
My Tournament Guide – https://rosatalksball.com/2024/02/22/2024-womens-premier-league-everything-you-need-to-know/
The WPL continues on Tuesday, with the fifth match up of the tournament. Gujarat play RCB at their home in Bengaluru. RCB come into the clash after a massive result last time out on Friday against the UP Warriorz secured their first points of the season. The Giants aren’t so lucky, coming into the fixture after a big defeat to reigning champions, The Mumbai Indians. The battle of last year’s 4th vs 5th is a key one for both sides, if their hopes of qualification to the eliminator/final are to stay alive. Here is the latest news, stats, analysis word from the coaches and more ahead of the fixture this afternoon.
Order of Content – Head to Head, The Squads, RCB (Last Time Out, 2024 Stats so Far, 2023 Stats, 2024 Fixtures), Gujarat Giants (Last Time Out, 2024 Stats so Far, 2023 Stats, 2024 Fixtures), 2024 WPL Current Standings.
Head to Head:
Two Games – RCB (1 Win), Gujarat Giants (1 Win):
The sides faced each other twice in 2023, a season in which they both struggled for points! Only net run rate separated the sides in 4th and 5th, with only 2 wins each.
Their first clash was on the 8th of March, with Gujarat winning the toss and electing to bat first and scoring a mammoth 201 runs. Sophia Dunkley was the standout batter for Gujarat, scoring 65 off just 28 balls including eleven 4s and three 6s. India’s Harleen Deol was also a standout, getting to 67 from 45 before being bowled by Shreyanka Patil. The Giants ended their innings on 201/7 with Shreyanka Patil and Heather Knight standing out with ball, taking two wickets each. The chase of such a huge total was never going to be straight forward, and unfortunately for RCB that definitely was the case, they fell twelve runs short of the 202 run target ending their 20 overs on 190/6. The overseas trio of Sophie Devine (66 from 45), Ellyse Perry *32 from 25) & Heather Knight (30* from 11) were responsible for the bulk of the runs in the failed chase, with Australia’s Ash Gardner the most successful bowler taking 3/31 (4.0)
The second time round saw another high first score innings from Gujarat, once again winning the toss and electing to bat first. They ended their first innings on 188/4, this time the runs coming from South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt (68 from 42), Sabbhineni Meghana (31 from 32) and Ash Gardner (41 from 26). Shreyanka Patil was once again the stand out bowler, taking 2/17 (2.0) This time round however RCB didn’t fall short in the chase, and the chase featured a rather special 99 from 36 balls for Sophie Devine, who agonizingly fell just short of the first century in the tournaments history.
The Squads:
Royal Challengers Bangalore – Smriti Mandhana (C), Asha Sobhana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry (OS), Nadine de Klerk (OS), Indrani Roy, Shradda Pokharkar*, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Sophie Devine (OS), Georgia Wareham (OS), Ekta Bisht, Kate Cross (OS), Shubha Sateesh, S Meghna, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux (OS)
*RCB – Kanika Ahuja (Injury) & Heather Knight (ECB Selection Requirements) replaced by Shraddha Pokharkar & Nadine de Klerk*
Gujarat Giants – Ash Gardner (OS), Beth Mooney (C & OS), Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt (OS), Shabnam Shakil, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwar, Phoebe Litchfield (OS), Meghna Singh, Trisha Poojitha, Sayali Sathgare+, Priya Mishra, Lea Tahuhu+ (OS), Kathryn Bryce (OS), Mannat Kashyap, Tarannum Pathan, Veda Krishnamurthy
+Gujarat Giant’s Lauren Cheatle (OS) and Kashvee Gautam (Injury) replaced by Lea Tahuhu (OS) and Sayali Sathgare.+
The Giants released the most players out of all the sides prior to the 2024 WPL, letting 11 go including four of their overseas contingent and keeping just eight players after coming 5th (of 5) last year. RCB also released a large number of their 2023 side, retaining 11 players and releasing 7.
“I loved my time at the WPL last year and I had an amazing time at Gujarat Giants and a lot of special memories there I think the WPL’s an incredible competition. I’d 100 per cent love to go back and play again if I get another opportunity in the future. I just think to me this year we’ve got a massive international year and, mentally and physically, to be in the best place for that I think to not go into the auction is the best decision for me. To work on my game and to be in the best position to play for England is my priority really.” – Gujarat Giant’s Sophia Dunkley on her decision to sit out of WPL Season 2.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Stating that RCB struggled in last years tournament feels like an extreme understatement, with many stating they caught the “curse” of their men’s side. After paying big in the auction, with their top by Smriti Mandhana being the most expensive of the auction, going for ₹3.4 crore (£323,216) the side struggled to gel as a unit, winning just 2 of the games played.
This year however is already looking more positive, with 7 new players they were successful in their opening game against last year’s 3rd placed side, the UP Warriorz. The side has a change of coach as well this year, with Luke Williams entering the fold in place of Ben Sawyer. Smriti Mandhana remains captain however, with the batter coming into this years tournament off the back of an impressive run of form in an India shirt, scoring 281 in their latest series against Australia and if she can find the same form in a RCB shirt, I reckon she is definitely one to watch.
“We’ve had a really productive 10-day camp leading into the WPL. It was carefully planned and constructed both from a cricketing point of view, but also a culture and team point of view in terms of how we set that up. So, there’s certainly been a combination of different things, whether that’s been nets and fielding and skills training combined with some match simulations where players individually and as a team, getting to understand and learn and practise the particular roles that we think players will face in the tournament.” – RCB Head Coach Luke Williams on RCB’s preparation heading in to WPL2
Last Time Out:
RCB’s plans for silverware started with a bang in Bengaluru, with a tense game seeing them beat the UP Warriorz. After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Mandhana’s side scored 157 runs, ending their 20 overs on 157/6. India’s Sabbhineni Meghana and Richa Ghosh were in the runs for the side, with 53 from 44 and 62 from 37 respectively.
After a solid platform from the batters, the side’s bowlers got to work, with Sophie Molineux gaining the wicket of her Australian comrade Alyssa Healy, enabling a positive start to the fielding innings. Despite the steady build from the Warriorz, an almost unbelievable spell from Sobhana Asha saw her take three wickets in the 17th over, with wickets on the first, fourth and sixth ball. With RCB seeming down and out of the game prior to that over, with a well set Shweta Sehrawat and Grace Harris needing just 32 runs from 24 balls. Asha ended her spell with figures of 5/22 (4.0) making her the first Indian player to take a 5 wicket haul in the WPL.
The game however, as nearly all in the tournament, went right down to the wire with Sophie Molineux taking the ball for the conclusive over, with UPW need 11 to win. RCB did come out on top, winning by just 2 runs from arguably absolutely nowhere. A tense but successful start to their 2024 campaign.
2024 Stats So Far:
4s – 22
6s – 3
Top 3 Wicket Takers:
- Sobhana Asha (India, 1 Game) – 5 Wickets (4 Overs), 5.50 Economy.
- Sophie Molineux (Australia, 1 Game) – 1 Wicket (4 Overs), 9.00 Economy.
- Georgia Wareham (Australia, 1 Game) – 1 Wicket (3 Overs), 7.67 Economy.
Top 3 Run Scorers:
- Richa Ghosh (India) – 62 Runs (1 Innings)
- Sabbhineni Meghana – 53 Runs (1 Innings)
- Smriti Mandhana – 13 Runs (1 Innings)
Best Bowling Average – Asha Sobhana (India) – 4.4
Best Economy – Renuka Singh Thakur (India) – 4.67
Highest Batting Strike Rate – Shreyanka Patil (India) – 200.00
2023 Top Wicket Takers & Run Scorers:
Top 5 Run Scorers:
- Sophie Devine (New Zealand, 6th Overall) – 266 runs from 8 innings at an average of 33.25.
- Ellyse Perry (Australia, 7th Overall) – 254 runs from 8 innings at an average of 42.16.
- Smriti Mandhana (India, 21st Overall) – 149 runs from 8 innings at an average of 18.62.
- Richa Ghosh (India, 23rd Overall) – 138 runs from 7 innings at an average of 23.00.
- Heather Knight (England, 24th Overall) – 135 runs from 8 innings at an average of 22.5.
Top 5 Wicket Takers:
- Shreyanka Patil (India) – 6 Wickets from 117 balls at an average of 32.00 and an economy of 9.84.
- Sobhana Asha (India) – 5 Wickets from 102 balls at an average of 28.4 and an economy of 8.35.
- Heather Knight (England) – 4 Wickets from 42 balls at an average of 19.5 and an economy of 11.14.
- Ellyse Perry (Australia) – 4 Wickets from 140 balls at an average of 48.5 and an economy of 8.31.
- Megan Schutt (Australia) – 4 Wickets from 156 balls at an average of 55.0 and an economy of 8.46.
2024 Fixtures (Still to Play):
Tuesday, February 27: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Giants (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Thursday, February 29: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Capitals (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Saturday, March 2: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Monday, March 4: Royal Challengers Bangalore v UP Warriorz (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Wednesday, March 6: Gujarat Giants v Royal Challengers Bangalore (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Sunday, March 10: Delhi Capitals v Royal Challengers Bangalore (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Tuesday, March 12: Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Gujarat Giants
The Gujarat Giants simularly to RCB struggled to get going in last years tournament, they enter this year looking for a fresh start with 11 new players, a new captain and a new coach! Michael Klinger replaces Australia’s Rachael Haynes as coach, with Beth Mooney coming in as captain for Sneh Rana who steps down and becomes the vice captain.
Mooney has limited captaincy experience, with the 30-year-old being at the center of the Australian batting attack for a number of years. Doubling as a wicket-keeper she was ruled out of last years tournament through injury, so will be looking to hit the tournament with a bang this time round, which I reckon is likely and I wouldn’t be shocked to see her among the top run scorers. She scored 217 runs during Australia’s recent tour of India!
“I think Indian players will have a significant role in helping win games. This WPL will go a long way in helping develop Indian players coming up through the ranks. This is an opportunity for players to push themselves to the next level, whether that’s India A or the Indian senior women’s team.” – Head coach Klinger on the importance of the WPL to India and the importance of the domestic talent.
Last Time Out:
Gujarat’s dream for a significantly improved 2024 took a blow, losing their opening game to the Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru. After becoming just the second side to offer a player from an associate nation a slot in the starting XI, this time in the form of Kathryn Bryce from Scotland, they certainly didn’t regret that decision with the predominantly bowling all rounder scoring the bulk of the runs!
After losing the toss and being put into bat the three quick wickets of Veda Krishnamurthy, Harleen Deol and Phoebe Litchfield left them 37/3 after 5.2 overs and unfortunately for Gujarat they never quite got going, ending their innings on 126/9. If it wasn’t for India’s Tanuja Kanwar (28 from 21) in at 9 and Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce (25 from 24) in at 7, a defendable total certainly wasn’t on the cards.
The class of the Mumbai Indian’s batting lineup proved too much to defend, with the side comfortably chasing the total despite late fightback in 18.1 overs, thanks to Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur; they ended their innings on 129/5. The wickets from Gujarat came through New Zealand quick Lea Tahuhu with one and hero’s with the bat Tanuja Kanwar (2/21 from 4.0) and Kathryn Bruce (1/22 from 3.0)
2024 Stats So Far:
4s – 10
6s – 2
Top 3 Wicket Takers:
- Tanuja Kanwar (India) – 2 wickets (4 overs), 5.25 economy.
- Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand) – 1 wicket (3 overs), 5.66 economy.
- Kathryn Bryce (Scotland) – 1 wicket (3 overs), 7.33 economy.
Top 3 Run Scorers:
- Tanuja Kanwar (India) – 28 runs (1 innings)
- Kathryn Bryce (Scotland) – 25 runs (1 innings)
- Beth Mooney (Australia) – 24 runs (1 innings)
Best Bowling Average – Tanuja Kanwar (India) – 10.5
Best Economy – Tanuja Kanwar (India) – 5.25
Highest Batting Strike Rate – Tanuja Kanwar (India) – 133.33
2023 Top Wicket Takers & Run Scorers:
Top 5 Run Scorers:
- Ash Gardner (Australia) – 204 runs from 8 innings at an average of 29.14.
- Harleen Deol (India) – 202 runs from 8 innings at an average of 28.85.
- Dayalan Hemalatha (India) – 151 runs from 8 innings at an average of 30.2.
- Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) – 143 runs from 4 innings at an average of 35.75.
- Sophia Dunkley (England) – 121 runs from 6 innings at an average of 20.16.
Top 5 Wicket Takers:
- Kim Garth (Australia) – 11 Wickets from 150 balls at an average of 17.54 and an economy of 7.72.
- Ash Gardner (Australia) – 10 Wickets from 166 balls at an average of 25.5 and an economy of 9.21.
- Sneh Rana (India)- 6 wickets from 146 balls at an average of 34.83 and an economy of 8.58.
- Tanuja Kanwar (India) – 5 wickets from 162 balls at an average of 47.8 and an economy of 8.85.
- Annabel Sutherland (Australia) – 3 wickets from 89 balls at an average of 57.0 and an economy of 11.52.
2024 Fixtures (Still to Play):
Tuesday, February 27: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Gujarat Giants (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Friday, March 1: Gujarat Giants v UP Warriorz (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Sunday, March 3: Delhi Capitals v Gujarat Giants (Bengaluru, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Wednesday, March 6: Gujarat Giants v Royal Challengers Bangalore (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Saturday, March 9: Gujarat Giants v Mumbai Indians (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Monday, March 11: Gujarat Giants v UP Warriorz (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK)
Wednesday, March 13: Delhi Capitals v Gujarat Giants (Delhi, 7.30pm Local & 2.00pm UK
2024 WPL Current Standings:
