Gardner, Bowlers Sink RCB to Third Straight Defeat
RCB's struggles at home continued as they slumped to their third consecutive defeat, this time against a dominant Gujarat Giants side led by Ashleigh Gardner. After starting the season on a high with two wins, RCB was eager to break their losing streak, but a poor batting display saw them falter once again.
A Modest Target, Yet Another Loss
Chasing a modest 126, Gujarat Giants had a cautious start, with Renuka Singh finding some early swing. D Hemalatha had a shaky time at the crease, managing some streaky runs before falling to Renuka's brilliance. The pacer extended her spell to four overs, dismissing the dangerous Beth Mooney to give RCB some hope. However, once Renuka was out of the attack, RCB failed to capitalize on the momentum.
Ashleigh Gardner wasted no time, sending a strong message with a boundary off her first ball. She took full advantage of the bowling change, smashing Prema Rawat for four consecutive boundaries, including a six, to completely deflate RCB’s attack. Despite Harleen Deol falling cheaply at the other end, Gujarat Giants remained in control. RCB had an opportunity to claw back when Richa Ghosh dropped a catch in the 13th over, but Phoebe Litchfield made sure they paid the price by finding boundaries soon after.
The final blow came when Gardner smashed back-to-back sixes off Georgia Wareham to reach a brilliant fifty. Though she fell for 58, the job was done, and Gujarat wrapped up the chase comfortably.
RCB’s Batting Woes Continue
RCB’s batting struggles were evident from the very start. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge started with a boundary but was trapped leg-before soon after. The biggest setback came in the second over when Ellyse Perry mistimed a short ball straight to square leg, gifting Gardner a wicket in her first over. Kashvee Gautam further tightened the screws with a couple of tight overs, increasing the pressure on Smriti Mandhana.
Mandhana, struggling for fluency, was dismissed after a slow 10 off 19 balls, attempting to break free but only finding the fielder at deep midwicket. The lack of partnerships and poor shot selection saw RCB post a below-par total of 125, which was never going to be enough against a side boasting Gardner’s firepower.
What's Next for RCB?
With three straight losses, RCB finds itself in a tough spot. Their batting unit needs to step up and provide a strong foundation, while the bowlers require better support after early breakthroughs. As the tournament progresses, they will need to regroup quickly to turn things around and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Can RCB bounce back, or will their struggles continue? Fans will be hoping for a revival in their next game!
Reference from :- https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/133606/gardner-bowlers-condemn-rcb-to-third-straight-loss