RCB storm into WPL 2026 final with massive win over UP Warriorz

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru sailed hammer and tongs into the grand final of WPL 2026, vanquishing UP Warriorz emphatically in their last group stage fixture. More importantly, they muscled back to winning ways after a bit of a bump along the way as Nadine de Klerk and Grace Harris laid the brickwork in place with the ball.

Winning the toss, RCB opted to bowl. They had one change to the side from the last game which saw Pooja Vastrakar coming in place of Gautami Naik. Lauren Bell started things on an economical note before the two UP openers eventually found their footing.

Meg Lanning (41) and Deepti Sharma (55) got the Warriorz the much-needed start at the top of the innings. The seasoned duo added 74 runs for the opening partnership before Nadine de Klerk drew first blood. Lanning holed out to Radha Yadav, offering RCB hope amongst the early chaos that they found themselves entangled in.

De Klerk struck for the second time in the same over, removing Amy Jones (1). Despite Harleen Deol (14) coming up with a bit of overhaul, it wasn’t enough to keep the RCB bowlers at bay. RCB added a new bowler to their mix and that was none other than the darling Grace Harris.

This completely changed the course of the game. Harris hammered twice in two overs, getting the better of Harleen and Chloe Tryon (6). With the time running out, Deepti Sharma decided to switch gears and almost single-handedly navigated the unpredictable waters. It was Shreyanka Patil who got the better of Deepti in the 19th over. UPW eventually concluded their innings at 143/8.

Nadine de Klerk climbed to the top of the wicket-taker’s list with 15 scalps next to her name, claiming the Purple Cap. She got the prized wickets of Lanning, Amy Jones, Simran Shaikh and Sophie Ecclestone in the evening to put RCB in a comfortable position.

Walking out to bat, Grace Harris knuckled down to business and had a bone to pick with her former WPL franchise. She went after the bowlers from the very first over itself. The first ball from Kranti Gaud was a full-toss on the middle-stump and Harris made it fly behind square. A ball later, Harris doubled her boundary tally, smashing one to deep mid-wicket’s right.

The partnership between Harris and Smriti only garnered further momentum with every succeeding over. Harris called the shots emphatically while the RCB captain was happy to play second fiddle. Harris completed her half-century in 28 balls, rocking Asha Sobhana for a staggering maximum over long-on.

The Aussie power-hitter had no intentions of relenting while Mandhana soon upped her scoring rate as it was double trouble for the Warriorz. The duo added 108 runs for the opening stand in just 55 balls as Harris slammed 75 off 37 balls. Clubbing 13 fours and two sixes, the Aussie all-rounder paved the path for RCB’s entry into the summit clash.

Once Harris fell, Mandhana took over the mantle of aggression while an incoming Georgia Voll picked the gaps right to steer RCB closer to the finish line. Mandhana finished unbeaten on 54 from 27 balls as RCB secured a staggering eight-wicket win to pull a double over UPW. This victory also meant that with six wins from eight group stage fixtures, RCB qualified for the grand final. Grace Harris won the Player of the Match award for her scintillating all-round performance.