Gautami Naik’s explosive 73 propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding 61-run victory over Gujarat Giants at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium, marking RCB’s fifth successive WPL triumph and clinching the first playoff spot.
Sent in to bat, RCB lost early momentum at 9/2. Skipper Smriti Mandhana (26 off 23) partnered Naik for 60 runs, then Naik and Richa Ghosh added 69 to reach 178/6. Naik’s knock featured seven boundaries and a maximum off 55 balls.
GG’s response was woeful: 5/3 quickly became 56/6 despite Gardner’s gritty 54 (43 balls, 5×4, 1×6) and partnerships with Anuska (29 runs) and Fulmali (41 runs). They ended at 117/8.
RCB’s bowlers dominated, Sayali Satghare taking three wickets, Nadine de Klerk two, and Bell, Yadav, Patil one each. Earlier, GG’s Gautam and Gardner took 2/2 apiece.
This clinical performance highlights RCB’s evolution into a complete unit, blending resilience after early setbacks with lethal bowling. As the sole playoff qualifiers so far, they eye the title with growing confidence.