Richa in action.
| Photo Credit: AFP

A true champion side is made up of several champions. In the case of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it has the likes of Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja.

They helped RCB, the defending champion, stage a stunning fightback in the opening match of the third season of the WPL on Friday night. Chasing Gujarat Giants’ 201 for five, the Bengaluru team was reduced to 109 for four when the duo came together in the 13th over, after the fall of Ellyse Perry (57, 34b, 6×4, 2×6).

Richa (64 not out, 27b, 7×4, 4×6) and Kanika (30 not out, 13b, 4×4) put on 93 for the unfinished fifth wicket as RCB became the first team to chase down a total of 200 or more in the WPL. It was sensational stuff, really.

Richa hit the new GG captain Ashleigh Gardner for four fours and a six in the 16th over, of which 23 runs came. This was after 16 runs came in the 15th over bowled by Sayali Satghare.

Under pressure the Gujarat fielding crumbled too, but credit is due to the fearless batting from the RCB duo. And fittingly it was Richa, who finished the job, with a six off Deandra Dottin, as the holder romped home with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, it was a brilliant captain’s knock from Gardner that helped Giants post an imposing total after being sent in to bat. With an astounding display of high-quality batting, the Australian all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 79 off a mere 37 balls (3×4, 8×6).

Gardner put on 44 for the third wicket with Mooney, from whom she took over the captaincy this season. The skipper of the last season yet again paced her knock (56, 42b, 8×4) nicely but her fellow-Aussie was a woman in a hurry.

On most nights, Gardner’s would have been a match-winning knock.