In a high-octane clash at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s explosive all-rounder Grace Harris delivered one of the standout batting performances in the early stages of the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, smashing a breathtaking 85 runs off 40 deliveries at the strike rate of 212.5 to guide her side to a commanding nine wicket victory over UP Warriorz.
Chasing a total of 143/5, RCB’s run chase never really lingered after the top order got rolling. Harris and skipper Smriti Mandhana put on a season-best first-wicket partnership of 137 runs, edging ahead of other opening stands this season and effectively snuffing out any realistic chance of a UPW comeback. The pair combined power with precision, scoring at a blistering rate that kept the scoreboard ticking from the outset.
Mandhana provided the anchor to Harris’s fireworks. She compiled a fluent 47* off 32, rotating strike effectively and punishing width, a role that allowed Harris to attack with freedom. Their opening stand was not only the highest of the match but also one of the most imposing partnerships of this WPL season, setting up the chase with remarkable efficiency.
Harris’s innings was a masterclass in power, timing and calculated aggression, punctuated by a historic over where she launched Deandra Dottin for 32 runs, equalling one of the most expensive overs in WPL history. The sequence of her knock included 10 boundaries and 5 towering sixes, underlining both her range of shots and her ability to dominate bowling attacks even under scoreboard pressure.
Her performance echoed past dominant innings in franchise cricket, including a recent 89 off 42 in The Hundred where she combined sheer power with crisp timing, further proof that Harris is among the most destructive and adaptable batters in contemporary women’s T20 cricket.
UP Warriorz, with a minimal total of 143, were unable to find a breakthrough early. Their bowling attack, led by Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin, struggled to contain the flow of runs at the start, especially during the first powerplay overs where RCB scored at more than 12 runs per over.
The dismissal of Harris eventually came after the partnership had effectively sealed the game, but by then the match was already beyond reach. RCB wrapped up victory comfortably, reaching 145/1 in 12.1 overs with nearly eight overs to spare.
In the context of the 2026 WPL season so far, this win firmly establishes Royal Challengers as serious contenders with momentum to build on. Harris’s 85 not only lit up the Dy Patil track but also served notice that when she’s in rhythm, she’s among the most explosive batters in women’s T20 cricket and capable of turning games with sheer firepower and calculated aggression and will be an absolute destructive asset for RCB.
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