Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner made an instantaneous affect within the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, hanging twice in her very first over to place Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on the again foot of their chase of 202. First, she trapped Smriti Mandhana plumb in entrance for 9 with a pointy supply that angled in and skidded onto the pads. 4 balls later, Gardner delivered one other huge blow by cleansing up Danni Wyatt-Hodge for simply 4.
Smriti Mandhana’s aggressive begin minimize quick by Ashleigh Gardner’s precision
Mandhana walked out with intent, hanging two crisp boundaries early on to sign RCB’s attacking method of their daunting chase of 202. Nonetheless, Gardner, main Gujarat from the entrance, produced a masterclass in bowling, slicing quick the RCB captain’s keep.
On simply her second supply of the match, Gardner bowled a back-of-a-length ball that pitched on off stump and skidded in sharply with the angle. Mandhana, caught on the crease whereas making an attempt to play sq. on the leg facet, failed to regulate to the sharp motion. The ball struck her flush on the pads, and up went the finger instantly. The enchantment was loud and assured, and Mandhana herself appeared to know she was in hassle.
Regardless of trying able to stroll off, she was persuaded by her batting associate to take the evaluate, presumably hoping the ball was sliding down her leg. However the replays crushed RCB’s hopes. The ball had overwhelmed the within fringe of her bat and was heading straight into the center stump, leaving no room for doubt. Extremely Edge confirmed no involvement of the bat, and ball-tracking confirmed three reds—crashing into the stumps. With that, Mandhana misplaced her wicket and burned RCB’s evaluate within the first over. Gardner had struck gold, sending the opposition’s most skilled batter again for simply 9 off 7 balls.
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Danni Wyatt-Hodge falls subsequent, center stump flattened
RCB, already rocked by the early departure of their captain, had no time to get better earlier than Gardner struck once more, this time dismantling Danni Wyatt-Hodge. The English opener had simply opened her account with a boundary and was seeking to settle in, however Gardner’s relentless accuracy didn’t enable her that luxurious.
On the ultimate ball of the identical over, Gardner delivered a skiddy, fuller-length ball concentrating on off stump. Wyatt-Hodge, in an try to brush, dedicated to the shot too early with out getting near the pitch of the ball. The consequence was disastrous – she missed it totally, and the ball crashed into the center stump, sending it flying.
Because the bails lit up and the stump lay uprooted, Wyatt-Hodge may solely look again in despair earlier than strolling off for simply 4 off 4 balls. The Gujarat Giants erupted in celebration, and Gardner, with figures of two/2 on the finish of her first over, had fully turned the match on its head. With each openers dismissed in fast succession, RCB’s chase of 201 had suffered a large early setback, leaving them needing a large restoration from their center order to remain within the recreation.
Right here’s the video:
𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ✌️
First with the bat and now with the ball 👏👏#GG captain Ash Gardner is on an absolute roll ⚡️
Dwell- https://t.co/5E1LoAlPBt #TATAWPL | #GGvRCB | @Giant_Cricket pic.twitter.com/N2CWlVtOAJ
— Ladies’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 14, 2025
Additionally WATCH: Virat Kohli’s special message to Smriti Mandhana’s RCB ahead of WPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Giants
This text was first revealed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times firm.
