Royal Challengers Bengaluru Secure Spot in WPL 2026 Final
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) advanced to the final of the Women’s Premier League 2026 (WPL 2026) with an impressive eight-wicket win over UP Warriorz on Thursday, January 29, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. The standout performances from Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk played a crucial role in this achievement, marking RCB’s second appearance in a WPL final.
Grace Harris showcased her batting skills yet again against UP, scoring 75 runs off just 37 balls. Her innings included 13 fours and 2 sixes. Together with captain Smriti Mandhana, who contributed a solid 54 runs not out off 27 balls, they shared a remarkable opening partnership of 108 runs in just 55 balls. RCB successfully chased down the target of 144 runs in just 13.1 overs.
Harris also made an impact with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 22 runs in her three overs. However, it was Nadine de Klerk who truly shone as a bowler, achieving her best WPL figures with 4 wickets for 22 runs. She dismissed Meg Lanning, who scored 41 runs, breaking a 74-run partnership and later trapped Amy Jones lbw, leading to a batting collapse for UP. In her final over, she claimed two more wickets, wrapping up her outstanding performance.
Deepti Sharma Shines for UP
Despite the loss, Deepti Sharma put on a valiant effort for UP, scoring 55 runs off 43 balls. She was the only player who managed to steady the innings while wickets fell around her, leading her team to a total of 143 runs for 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Following their victory, RCB maintained the top position in the points table with 12 points from six wins in eight matches, while UP Warriorz remained at the bottom with just four points from their seven matches.
This victory not only showcases RCB’s consistent performance but also sets the stage for an exciting final in the WPL 2026.
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