Radha Yadav's fifty and Shreyanka Patil's fifer help RCB surge past GG by 32 runs

Radha Yadav's fifty helped RCB beat GG [Source: ABsay_ek/X.com]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru met the Gujarat Giants at the DY Patil Stadium on January 16, as the teams played their third and fourth match, respectively. Heading into the match, RCB sat at the top of the table with two wins in two matches, while GG won two and lost one and were level on points at number 3.

Both innings of the game saw top and middle order batting collapses, where the 2024 champions RCB found a way to fight back, but the Giants capitulated from a promising position early on in the game. As the Royal Challengers make it three wins in a row, below is a breakdown of events from the game.

Kashvee Gautam causes early troubles for RCB

Upon being asked to bat first at the DY Patil Stadium, Grace Harris got RCB to a near-perfect start with four fours off the first over before she fell to Kashavee Guatam's inswing delivery, which caught her lbw on 17(8). Gautam returned for her second over and once again struck with Dayalan Hemalatha's wicket at 4(8), putting GG in front early in the match.

While Mandhana watched the two wickets fall, neither could she settle in as Renuka Singh returned from her 23-run first over to get rid of the captain at 5(8) off an outside edge. Just an over later, Sophie Devine came into the attack and dismissed debutant Gautami Naik after her 9 off 6, and RCB found themselves 43/4 in 5.3 overs.

Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh rescue RCB's collapse

Radha Yadav, who has been given an added responsibility with the bat this season at 5, was joined by the explosive Richa Ghosh, and the duo got their team out of the precarious situation with a 105-run stand in 12 overs. Despite starting slow with 22 off her first 20 balls, Radha accelerated and attacked relentlessly to reach her fifty in 36 balls. Similarly, Richa played her trademark attacking knock of 44(28) with four fours and two sixes before getting out.

Nadine de Klerk joined the party and scored 26(12) with two fours and two sixes before getting out in the 20th over. Radha followed her in a couple of balls and got out for 66(47) with six fours and three sixes as they took RCB to 182/7 in 20 overs. Sophie Devine picked 3/31 (4) as GG's best bowler.

Shreyanka Patil and co. push GG to the wall

Following a great recovery in the second half of the first innings, RCB carried their momentum while defending the target. While Beth Mooney started strong with her 27(14) with four fours and a six, Shreyanka Patil's off-break trapped her in front of the wickets, and the Aussie opener had to join Sophie Devine (8 off 12) in the hut as the score read 38/2 in 5 overs.

Shreyanka further inflicted damage to GG's chase with Kanika Ahuja's wicket on 16(14), and she was well complemented by Lauren Bell and Nadine de Klerk, who got the big wickets of Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham.

Fulmali's blistering cameo in vain

The aggressive batter Bharti Fulmali came in to bat at 63/4 and was later joined by Kashvee at 70/5, and the duo straightaway got going. Led by Fulmali's six-hitting exhibition, Gautam also got a six and a four in their 56(28) partnership. Gautam was caught by Grace Harris on long-on at 18 while she tried to attack Patil.

After being stranded at one end for a while, Fulmali also fell to Lauren Bell soon after Gautam at 39 off 20 with three sixes and three fours to her name. RCB tightened things up and bundled GG for 150 runs in 18.5 overs. Shreyanka Patil finished the match with 5/23 in her 3.5 overs. Lauren Bell took 3/29 off her four over spell.