He WPL 2024 continues with RCB Women taking on Gujarat Giants in Match 5 on Tuesday, February 27. The match starts at 7:30 pm IST and is the second game of the season for both teams. RCB won against UP Warriorz, while Gujarat lost to Mumbai in their first matches of the campaign.
Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore were the bottom two teams last season. While RCB finished fourth, the Giants finished fifth last season. Both teams are looking for a change of direction. Therefore, a victory is the only thing that matters for both teams. The two teams defeated each other once last season.
Team analysis
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women
RCB Women are coming off a win against UP Warrior. The team was lucky in many ways to win the game. It was only because of Sobhana Asha’s five-wicket spell that RCB won the match.
They were very poor on the field with the wrong players. The captain also took advantage of some opportunities. He is yet to score a fifty in the WPL and should aim for one in this game. The spin trio of Asha, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham is key from now on. Shreyanka Patil is also in the mix.
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Gujarat Giants
The team will be led by Ben Mooney, who replaces Sneh Rana as captain. Alongside her, the management has elected a new support staff including Nooshin Al Khadeer (bowling coach), Tushar Arothe (batting coach) and Gavan Twining (fielding coach).
Kashvee Gautam and Lauren Cheatle are ruled out of the season for different reasons. Gujarat got Gautam for 2 crores and she became the most expensive player in the WPL 2024 auction. The franchise then named Mumbai’s Sayali Sathgare as a replacement at a reserve price of ₹10 lakhs.
Unfortunately, Lauren Cheatle was ruled out due to health issues. She was replaced by veteran New Zealand cricketer Lea Tahuhu. It will be interesting to see what kind of playing combination Gujarat directs into the game. They have yet to nail down their best combination.
Also Read: Watch Smriti Mandhana look stunned after massive reception at Chinnaswamy Stadium for RCB’s first game of WPL 2024.
Key factors
Field conditions
The Chinnaswamy stadium pitch will be a suitable batting ground. The first 11 matches will be played in Bengaluru. Therefore, it is expected that many matches will be played with many goals. We have seen a total of over 170 in the first game and a total of over 150 in the second, providing fantastic games.
Since dew influences the second inning, teams prefer to chase. However, scoring always helps and there is always pressure on the chasing teams in T20s.
Form and fitness
Fitness-wise, the Gujarat Giants team has some concerns. Two players, Kashvee Gautam and Lauren Cheatle, are already ruled out of the tournament for different reasons. Gautam suffered a stress fracture in the ball of his left foot during a match days after the WPL auction.
For RCB, captain Smriti Mandhana’s form is key. He has a best score of 37 in the WPL and is yet to score a fifty in the tournament. He scored 13 against UP Warriorz.
Tactical insight
Smriti was smart with her use of spinners while defending the target. The three spinners of Asha, Wareham and Molinuex from now on become key to each match of the Bangalore team.
For Gujarat captain Beth Mooney, her use of spinners in the middle overs will also be interesting. Playing alongside Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning in international cricket, Mooney should have learned a few tricks.
Recent venue records (M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)
Total matches 18
Matches won by hitting the first 7
Matches won bowling first 9
Average score for 1st Inns 141
Average score for 2nd Inns 136
Highest total recorded 212/4 (20 Ov) by IND vs AFG
Lowest recorded total 99/10 (19.3 Ov) by RSAW vs NZW
Highest score pursued 194/3 (19.4 Ov) by AUS vs IND
Lowest score defended 114/7 (20 Ov) by SLW vs RSAW
Who will score the most runs for RCB women: Smriti Mandhana/Sophie Devine
Who will take the most wickets for RCB women? Sobhana Asha / Sophie Molineux
Today’s BAN-W vs GUJ-W Match Prediction: Who will win today’s WPL match? WPL 2024, match 5
RCB Women, with their local support playing in Chinnaswamy, are in a better position to win the match after a winning start.