Royal Challengers Bengaluru has officially booked its ticket to the WPL 2026 final after a clinical eight-wicket demolition of the bottom-placed UP Warriorz. Following two consecutive losses, the 2024 champions returned to the Kotambi Stadium with a vengeance, dismantling the Warriorz in just 13.1 overs to secure the top spot in the league phase.
Grace Harris entered Thursday night under a cloud of doubt, having managed only 43 runs in her previous five innings. She answered those critics with a 75 off 37 balls.
The powerplay: Harris targeted young seamer Kranti Gaud, smashing five boundaries in the third over alone.
The milestone: She reached her fifty in 28 balls with a signature six over long-on.
The skipper’s support: Smriti Mandhana provided more than just a supporting role; she actually outpaced Harris’s fifty, reaching the landmark in just 26 balls to finish on 54 not out.
While Harris dominated the chase, South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk broke the back of the Warriorz's batting. Despite a record opening stand for UPW, de Klerk’s middle-over intervention triggered a massive collapse.
4/22: De Klerk’s figures against UPW.
15 Wickets: De Klerk now leads the league (equal with Sophie Devine) for the most wickets this season.
The collapse: UPW slumped from 74/0 after 8 overs to 143/8 at the finish, managed just 21 runs for the loss of 4 wickets at the death.
