Video of the Day: Gujarat skipper Ashleigh Gardner hammers Prema Rawat for hat-trick of sixes in WPL 2025 opener

Vadodara's Kotambi Stadium witnessed a remarkable start to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 as Gujarat Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner displayed a brutal hit on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling attack. The all-rounder smashed a hat-trick of sixes off Prema Rawat's bowling, bringing up her fifty in just 25 balls and guiding Gujarat to a total of 201/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Gardner’s fireworks began in the 14th over when she took on the young spinner. The Australian all-rounder stepped down the track and smashed a tossed-up delivery over long-off for a huge six. On the very next ball, she jumped down the crease again to hammer a googly over wide long-on. She completed her hat-trick of sixes with a pull over deep square leg, taking 21 runs off the over. The Aussie batter continued to deal in sixes with ease. By the end of the innings, she remained unbeaten on 79 off just 37 deliveries, laced with three boundaries and eight sixes and at a strike rate of 213.51.

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Gujarat post a big total on board against Bengaluru

The Gujarat Giants, after being put into bat, got off to a good start thanks to Beth Mooney, who played an innings of 56 off 42 balls. While Laura Wolvaardt (6 off 10) and Dayalan Hemalatha (4 off 9) fell cheaply, Mooney held the innings together before Gardner took the onus upon herself. Deandra Dottin (25 off 13) and Simran Shaikh (11 off 5) played quick cameos to ensure the hosts crossed the 200-run mark.

For RCB, Renuka Singh was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/25 in her four overs. Kanika Ahuja (1/19) and Georgia Wareham (1/50) chipped in with a wicket each, but the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain the Giants’ batting power. Rawat, who suffered from Gardner’s heroics, ended with figures of 1/26 in her two overs.