WPL 2025 RCB vs UPW: High Score Thriller Won By UP Warriorz

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In a sudden turn of affairs, UP Warriorz outsmarted Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a high-scoring thriller, thus ensuring both teams’ elimination from the WPL 2025 playoffs competition. The win paved the way for Gujarat Giants to debut in their maiden playoffs feature, alongside Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in the next phase of the tournament.

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Even as the playoff qualification is now locked and loaded, the race to the number one position remains very much on and a thriller of an end to the league stage looks to be unfolding.

Voll’s Unbeaten 99* Writes Record-Breaking Total

Georgia Voll’s stunning 99* knock (from 60 balls) led UP Warriorz to the WPL 2025 top total. Her performance also tied the equal-highest individual score in league history. Still, for all her heroism, the match was teetering on a knife’s edge with RCB staging an incredible comeback, led by Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana.

Voll, who joined the WPL as a Chamari Athapaththu replacement, emerged as a standout performer, displaying outstanding potential. With two consecutive half-centuries in the tournament, she has become a strong candidate for retention in the next season.

Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana’s Near Miracle

RCB’s pursuit appeared impossible when Ghosh walked off after a scorching 69 off 33 balls, with her team requiring 55 runs from the last 22 balls. When it appeared that Warriorz had wrapped up the game, Sneh Rana turned the match on its head.

Up against Deepti Sharma in the 19th over, Rana hammered a remarkable 4, 6, 6, 4, 6, amassing 28 runs—the highest ever conceded by an over in WPL history. The game was played out to 15 runs off 7 balls, and the Warriorz came under pressure.

Contributing to the drama, Deepti had an opportunity to run out Kim Garth at the non-striker’s end but did not do so. The move could have been expensive, but later Rana got out attempting to clear the ropes, taken by Poonam Khemnar—a past RCB player. With the fall of her wicket, RCB’s chances shattered, and UP Warriorz clinched the match in the last over with Renuka Singh’s run-out.

Georgia Voll and Grace Harris Spark Powerplay Blitz

– Voll, having made fifty on debut, went faster in this match.
– She combined with Grace Harris to thrash 67 runs in the powerplay, the season’s highest powerplay score.
– Voll’s back-foot play, developed on bouncy Queensland pitches, was a highlight. She carved gaps with precision and displayed massive forearm strength.
– Harris, who is a master of innovative stroke play, scooped and paddled her way to vital runs, gorging on errant deliveries from RCB’s new-ball pair of Garth and Renuka Singh.

Kiran Navgire’s Explosive Cameo

Once Harris was run out early, Kiran Navgire did not waste any time in asserting herself.

– She hit Ellyse Perry’s second ball for a huge six past deep square leg.
– Then, in the following over, she attacked Georgia Wareham, hitting back-to-back sixes.
– Voll, undaunted, did not let up, reaching her fifty off 31 balls.
– Navgire’s attack on Renuka Singh in the 12th over (4, 2, 4, 0, 6, 6) took Warriorz over the 200-run barrier.

Even after losing wickets towards the end of the innings, Voll continued to charge towards WPL’s first-ever century. A second run hesitated on the final ball, however, and Deepti Sharma was run out, leaving Voll at 99*.

RCB’s Blazing Chase: Ghosh and Rana’s Rebound

– Smriti Mandhana got out too early, but her substitute S Meghana smashed 22 runs in one over off Harris.
– Ellyse Perry’s batting was just incredible, crushing three consecutive boundaries off Chinelle Henry.
– But their aggressive style resulted in wickets falling, so Richa Ghosh had too much work to do.

Ghosh, nevertheless, accepted the challenge wonderfully well, employing:
– Depth of crease to launch short balls
– Agile footwork to generate angles for lofted shots
– Flat-bat strength to cut long-on and midwicket in two

Her 64-run partnership with Wareham placed RCB in contention, but when Ghosh got out, Sneh Rana had her work cut out.

Rana’s sensational late charge nearly pulled off victory, but her fall on the boundary cemented Warriorz’ nail-biting victory.

What’s Next?

UP Warriorz bow out of the WPL 2025 in style but will rue lost opportunities after only winning three of their eight games. RCB’s title defense ends in heartbreak, as the side misses out on the playoffs. Gujarat Giants made their first playoff entry alongside Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.

The fight for the number one position is on, building a blockbuster finale to the league stage. Final Takeaway: Voll’s classic 99, Rana’s late flurry and a nail-biting finish made it one of the most thrilling WPL matches so far.

ALSO READ: UP Warriorz Set New WPL Records in Historic Win Against RCB

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