Two Sixes, Two Fours: Nadine de Klerk Snatches Victory from MI in Final Four Balls

New Delhi: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 kicked off in spectacular fashion at the D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, with a thrilling opener between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In a match that went down to the last over, RCB snatched a dramatic three-wicket victory, thanks to a sensational finish by Nadine de Klerk.

De Klerk’s Heroics in the Last Over
RCB required 18 runs from the final over bowled by MI’s Nat Saiver-Brent, and de Klerk was on strike. The first two deliveries yielded no runs, but on the third ball, de Klerk hit a massive six, followed by a boundary on the fourth ball. She then struck another six on the fifth delivery. With 2 runs needed off the final ball, de Klerk calmly hit a boundary to seal the win for RCB. Her incredible 44-ball unbeaten 63 proved decisive, earning her the Player of the Match award.

Match Overview
Winning the toss, RCB elected to field first. MI posted 154/6 in 20 overs, with Sajivan Sajna top-scoring at 45 runs. MI leg-spinner Amelia Kerr was the standout bowler for her team, claiming 2 wickets for just 13 runs.

Chasing 156, RCB lost early momentum but recovered with de Klerk’s unbeaten knock. She steered the team across the line in a nerve-wracking finish, highlighting her calmness under pressure and match-winning ability.

The opening match of WPL 2026 set the tone for an exciting season, demonstrating that in T20 cricket, no victory is secure until the very last ball is bowled.