It was a night of pure dominance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they dismantled UP Warriorz to punch their ticket straight to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final. What looked like a competitive game early on quickly turned into a one-sided affair at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
After restricting the Warriorz to a modest 143/8, RCB’s openers came out with a point to prove, chasing down the target in just 13.1 overs. It was a professional, clinical performance that silenced any doubts following RCB’s recent dip in form and cemented their status as the team to beat this season.
The match began with Smriti Mandhana winning the toss and sticking to the trend of chasing under the lights. The Warriorz tried a new tactic by promoting Deepti Sharma to open alongside Meg Lanning, and for a while, it looked like a masterstroke. The pair looked comfortable and composed, putting on a solid 74-run stand for the first wicket. They navigated the powerplay beautifully to reach 50/0, providing the Warriorz with the perfect platform to launch a big total. At that stage, a score in the range of 170-180 felt very much on the cards.
However, the game turned on its head the moment Nadine de Klerk was introduced. She broke the opening stand by dismissing Meg Lanning for a well-made 41 off 30 balls, and from there, the Warriorz’ innings simply fell apart. De Klerk was relentless, finishing with a brilliant 4/22 and tearing through the middle order. While Deepti Sharma fought a lonely battle at the other end, scoring 55 off 43 deliveries, she received absolutely no support. The Warriorz collapsed from 74/0 to 143/8 in their 20 overs, a total that felt at least 30 runs short on a decent Vadodara surface.
If the Warriorz hoped for early wickets to stay in the contest, Grace Harris had other plans. Opening for RCB, Harris played one of the most destructive knocks of the tournament. She didn’t just score; she bullied the Warriorz bowling attack from the first over. Whether it was piercing the gap through the covers or launching the ball over the ropes, she looked completely untouchable. Harris raced to 75 off just 37 balls, smashing 13 boundaries and two sixes at a staggering strike rate of 202.70. By the time she finally fell to Shikha Pandey, the result was already a foregone conclusion.
While Harris provided the fireworks, Smriti Mandhana was the picture of elegance at the other end. The RCB captain played a flawless supporting role that eventually turned into an aggressive charge of her own. Mandhana finished unbeaten on 54 off just 27 balls, reaching her half-century in 26 deliveries. The duo shared a massive 108-run opening partnership that broke the spirit of the Warriorz’ bowlers. Mandhana eventually sealed the deal with a signature boundary, ending the game with 41 balls to spare and ensuring her team finished at the top of the table with 12 points.
This victory was a statement of intent from Bengaluru. For the Warriorz, it was a bitter end to a campaign that showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately lacked the depth to compete with the big guns. On the other hand, RCB heads into the final with all the momentum, backed by a bowling unit that knows how to squeeze teams and a top order that can take any game away in a matter of overs. Grace Harris was rightly named Player of the Match for her all-round show, having also chipped in with 2/22 with the ball before her batting masterclass.
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