WPL 2026, Match 18: De Klerk, Harris power RCB into final

UP Warriorz (UP) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) locked horns in Match 18 of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday, January 29. RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first. Notably, it was the 40th consecutive time in the league that a team took that decision after winning the toss.

RCB made one change - Gautami Naik was left out for Pooja Vastrakar who returned to competitive cricket after more than a year. On the other hand, UP handed a debut to Amy Jones who replaced the injured Phoebe Litchfield. The team also left out Kiran Navgire, who has registered three ducks out of six innings, and replaced her with Simran Shaikh for her first game of the season.

UP came out with a new opening pair in the form of Deepti Sharma and Meg Lanning. Lauren Bell kept things tight in her first two overs as the batting side scored just 12 runs in the first three overs. But, Shreyanka Patil's first over opened the floodgates as Deepti cut loose. Lanning, too, joined her soon as the duo punished the RCB bowlers including Bell whose third over went for 14 runs.

UP scored 56 runs in four overs, finding themselves at 68/0 after seven overs. But, the introduction of Nadine de Klerk into the attack ended the prospering partnership immediately as Lanning was caught out for 41(30). WPL debutant Jones came to the crease next, but the wicketkeeper-batter's stay was very short as De Klerk trapped the Englishwoman for 1(2) in the same over.

Harleen Deol joined Deepti as UP needed a stabilising partnership. The team did get it though at a slower than required pace. RCB were able to tighten the screws and it brought them the wicket of Deol as the right-hander was bowled by Grace Harris for a run-a-ball 14.

The batters to come next could not contribute adequately. Deepti held fort at one end and attempted to take the team to a respectable total, in the process reaching her first fifty of the season. However, the all-rounder failed to up the ante subsequently as Patil dismissed her for a well-made 55(43).

UP finished at 143/8 in their 20 overs. For RCB, De Klerk was the best bowler with figures of 4/22. Significantly, the South African is also the joint-highest wicket-taker of the season now with 15 scalps. As for economy rates, Bell was again the most miserly giving away 5.25 runs per over.

Harris began the chase with a four of Kranti Gaud and followed up with one more later in the over. The Australian was in a hurry as the 32-year-old smashed Gaud for five fours in her next over, taking RCB to 38 for no loss after three overs. Harris continued to attack, sparing no bowler. Meanwhile, Mandhana who was off strike mostly joined the party, too.

RCB ended the powerplay at 63/0 and soon after Harris reached her half century in an emphatic manner, smashing Asha Sobhana for a six. The all-rounder achieved her second fifty of the season off 28 balls and was not done yet. The duo were on a different plane tonight and fetched boundaries with ease. Mandhana, who was comparatively quiet up until now, stroked Chloe Tryon for three consecutive fours around the halfway mark.

Harris, who looked likely to score a century, was bowled by Deepti in the 10th over though. The Australian made a demolishing 75 runs off 37 balls, an innings which comprised 13 fours and two sixes. Georgia Voll came in at number three and scored a brisk 16 off 15 balls, getting out when the scores were level though.

Mandhana, who played an active role in the partnership with Voll, reached her second fifty of the season. The captain took her team home in just the 14th over as RCB won the match by eight wickets and stormed straight into the final. UP Warriorz, on the other hand, need to win their last league match but it will still not guarantee them a third-place finish.