RCB Storm into WPL 2026 Final with Dominant Win over UP Warriorz

Vadodara: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) booked their place in the final of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with a commanding eight-wicket victory over UP Warriorz in their final league match on Thursday. The win confirmed RCB’s position at the top of the points table and virtually ended UP Warriorz’s playoff hopes.

With this victory, RCB climbed to 12 points from eight matches, a tally no other team can surpass. As per the tournament format, the table-toppers earn direct qualification to the final, while UP Warriorz, having suffered their fifth defeat in seven matches, are almost out of the playoff race.

Batting first, UP Warriorz posted 143 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings began positively with a strong opening partnership between Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma, who added 74 runs in 8.1 overs. Lanning scored a brisk 41 off 30 balls, including six fours and a six, before being dismissed. Deepti carried the innings forward, top-scoring with a composed 55 off 43 deliveries, hitting six fours and a six.

However, UP failed to build on the solid start as wickets fell regularly in the middle and death overs. The Warriorz lost three wickets in the final seven balls, losing momentum at a crucial stage. Harleen Deol contributed 14 runs, while Simran Shaikh added 10.

RCB’s bowling attack was led by Nadine de Klerk, who delivered a superb spell, claiming four wickets for 22 runs. Grace Harris picked up two wickets, while Lauren Bell and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with one each.

In reply, RCB made light work of the target, chasing it down in just 13.1 overs. Openers Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana produced a breathtaking batting display, adding 108 runs for the first wicket in only 55 balls. The duo smashed 63 runs in the powerplay, putting the UP bowlers under immense pressure.

Harris reached her half-century off 28 balls and went on to play a blistering knock of 75 off 37 balls, smashing 13 fours and two sixes, before being dismissed by Shikha Pandey. Mandhana then took charge, completing her fifty off 26 balls and sealing RCB’s qualification for the final with a boundary in the 14th over. The RCB captain remained unbeaten on 54 off 27 balls, which included eight fours and two sixes.

The emphatic win underlined RCB’s dominance in the tournament and their strong title credentials, while UP Warriorz were left needing a near-miracle to stay alive in the competition.