A record number of runs were scored on Friday night in Vadodara, and Ashleigh Gardner equalled the record for the most sixes in an innings but still ended up on the losing side

Defending champions RCB broke the record for the highest successful run chase in the Women's Premier League as they chased down 202 to beat Gujarat Giants by six wickets in Vadodara.

Reduced to 14/2, the RCB's 'Play Bold' philosophy drove the run-chase despite all odds, as a recovery partnership by Perry and Raghvi Bisht paved way for what seemed like endless punishment for GG bowlers towards the end.

Gardner also took two wickets in an exceptional first over as she looked on course to lead her side to victory over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, only for Perry to lead the fightback and Indian star Richa Ghosh to finish the job dazzlingly as RCB launched their defence with a six-wicket win.

Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry scored half-centuries as the holders hunted down Gujarat Giants' 201 with nine balls to spare

Renuka was the pick of the bowlers, conceding just 25 runs and getting two wickets. Kanika, Wareham and Prerna got one wicket each. During the run-chase of 202, RCB openers Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge started with three fours in the first over, but Gardner pushed them back by removing both the openers in the next over. RCB was 14/2 in two overs.

Set 202 to win, RCB thrived on a stunning 27-ball 64* (7X4, 4X6) from Richa Ghosh and a 34-ball 57 from Ellyse Perry to gun down the target with nine balls to spare. It marked the first occasion of a successful 200-plus run chase in WPL’s brief history and conclusively outshone an equally stunning six-hitting display from GG skipper Ashleigh Gardner.