Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner produced a captain’s knock to steer the Gujarat Giants towards a crucial six-wicket victory over the Royal Challengers in Bengaluru on Friday morning AEDT.
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Chasing a modest 126-run target for victory, Gujarat got the job done with 21 balls to spare courtesy of Gardner’s 58 off 31 balls, her third fifty of the tournament.
The 27-year-old, who clobbered six boundaries and three sixes, combined with compatriot Phoebe Litchfield (30 not out from 21 balls) for a 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket to put the Giants within touching distance of the target.
The victory puts Gujarat, still sitting at the bottom of the Women’s Premier League standings, within two points of tournament leaders the Mumbai Indians to keep their finals dream alive.
“We needed a win to stay in it,” Litchfield said after the match.
“Ash did an amazing job.”
Most runs in the 2025 WPL
254 — Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI)
235 — Ellyse Perry (RCB)
202 — Ash Gardner (GG)
137 — Shafali Verma (DC)
132 — Smriti Mandhana (RCB)
Earlier, Bengaluru stumbled to 3-25 in the sixth over after Gujarat won the toss and chose to bowl first. England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge was dismissed in the first over for 4 before superstar Ellyse Perry, the second-leading run-scorer of the tournament, fell victim to Gardner after miscuing a pull shot towards square leg for a fourth-ball duck.
Kanika Ahuja top-scored for Bengaluru with a 28-ball 33, while Gardner (1-22 from four overs) and fellow spinner Tanuja Kanwar (2-16 from four overs) were the pick of the bowlers.
After the Royal Challengers posted 7-125, the contest was arguably in the balance when the Giants crawled towards 2-42 in the eighth over of the chase. However, Gardner clobbered 19 runs in an over against rookie Prema Rawat to swing momentum firmly in Gujarat’s favour.
Litchfield, playing just her second match of the tournament, produced a flurry of reverse sweeps during her stylish knock, while Australian teammate Georgia Wareham claimed 2-26 with the ball, including the dismissal of Gardner caught-and-bowled.
Gujarat will next face the UP Warriorz at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, with the first ball scheduled for 1am AEDT.