UP vs RCB: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their spot in the final of the WPL 2026 with a resounding win over UP Warriorz (UPW) in Vadodara. It was an all-round performance by Nadine de Klerk and a scintillating display by Grace Harris that left UPW on the verge of elimination from the playoff race.
UP vs RCB Match Overview: A Game of Sharp Contrasts
Batting conditions appeared to be difficult for most of the night, especially in the UPW innings. Other than Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma, UPW did not seem to get the momentum going, with none of the other batters reaching a strike rate of over 100. However, RCB chased down the target quite easily.
Grace Harris smashed a 75 off 37 deliveries, including a 28-ball half-century, that destroyed the UPW bowling attack and further emphasised the dominance of RCB in the UP vs RCB series.
Lanning and Deepti Provide UPW a Strong Start
UPW also made a change in their opening lineup at the top, with Deepti Sharma being promoted to open alongside Meg Lanning. This approach immediately paid off as the two combined to register an opening partnership of 50, which was the best opening start for UPW against RCB in the WPL 2026 season.
UPW scored 50/0 in the powerplay
Deepti started her assault on Lauren Bell with back-to-back boundaries. Lanning quickly stepped up the pace, with the run rate touching over 9.5 an over, but this positive opening was not to last.
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Nadine de Klerk Triggers Middle-Overs Collapse
Nadine de Klerk, once again, proved to be the game-changer for RCB. She struck in the ninth over, getting rid of Lanning, and then picked up the wicket of Amy Jones just four balls later.
After that, UPW seemed to lose their rhythm:
- Only 32 runs were scored in the next six overs
- Four wickets were lost in the middle period
Deepti could not get her rhythm going even as she anchored the innings well
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De Klerk came back to finish off the innings, taking two more wickets, and finishing with four wickets for 22 runs, thus equalling Sophie Devine’s record of 15 wickets in a WPL season for RCB. UPW could manage a meager 143/8, which seemed well below the strength of RCB’s batting lineup.
UP vs RCB Chase: Harris Unleashes Brutal Assault
RCB did not give UPW any time to settle into the game. While Kranti Gaud bowled some tight overs, Grace Harris made sure that she made the most of any loose balls, hitting five boundaries in one over.
- Gaud conceded 29 runs in two overs
- Harris reached her fifty in just 28 balls
- UPW’s bowlers struggled to find any answers
Shikha Pandey eventually dismissed Harris, but by then, the damage was irreversible.
Mandhana Finishes the Job in Style
Though Harris was in command of the strike, Smriti Mandhana was the perfect foil before she herself changed gears. She went after Sophie Ecclestone and Chloe Tryon, hitting several boundaries to make the pursuit easy.
Mandhana reached her 50 in just 26 balls, which was quicker than Harris, thus establishing the dominance of RCB in the UP vs RCB match. RCB won the match easily, thus concluding one of the most dominant league phases with six victories out of eight.
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