Navi Mumbai witnessed a spectacular display of power-hitting as Grace Harris's explosive 85 off 40 balls, including a 22-ball fifty, propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dominant nine-wicket victory over the UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League (WPL). This win, RCB's second in a row, catapulted them to the top of the points table.
UP Warriorz, after being put in to bat, suffered an early collapse, finding themselves at 50 for 5 within the first nine overs. RCB's disciplined bowling attack, led by Lauren Bell, who impressed with figures of 1 for 16 from four overs, and Shreyanka Patil, who took two wickets in a single over, put the Warriorz under immense pressure. Nadine de Klerk also contributed with two quick wickets, further derailing the UP Warriorz's innings.
However, a resilient sixth-wicket partnership between Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin rescued the innings. Initially playing cautiously, the pair gradually increased the tempo, adding 93 runs together to take UPW to a total of 143 for 5. Deepti remained unbeaten on 45 off 35 balls, while Dottin supported her with an unbeaten 40 off 37 deliveries.
RCB's response was nothing short of brutal. Grace Harris immediately took charge, displaying breathtaking power-hitting. Alongside her, Smriti Mandhana played a composed innings, rotating the strike and capitalizing on loose deliveries. The turning point arrived in the final over of the powerplay when Harris unleashed a savage assault on Deandra Dottin, scoring 32 runs, including three sixes and four boundaries. Harris reached her fifty in just 22 balls, the fastest of the season, effectively sealing the contest in RCB's favor. RCB reached 100 in just 7.5 overs, the second-fastest team hundred in WPL history.
The 137-run opening stand was eventually broken when Harris was caught by Meg Lanning for a stunning 85 off 40 balls, which included ten fours and five sixes. By then, the target was all but done. Mandhana remained unbeaten on 47, with Richa Ghosh alongside her, as RCB completed the chase in 12.1 overs to register a second straight win.
Grace Harris was named Player of the Match for her explosive innings. She expressed her delight with her time at RCB, praising the team environment and highlighting Smriti Mandhana's calming influence and technical prowess. This victory not only secured RCB's position at the top of the table but also significantly boosted their net run rate, establishing them as strong contenders for the WPL 2026 title. The UP Warriorz, on the other hand, slipped to their second consecutive defeat and will need to address their performance in all departments to bounce back in the tournament.
