4 months ago
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After 2 consecutive defeats successful the Women’s Premier League, Royal Challengers Bengaluru was backmost to its precise champion connected Thursday (January 29, 2026). That was mostly down to Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk, who played starring roles to assistance the Smriti Mandhana-led outfit rout U.P. Warriorz by 8 wickets astatine the Kotambi Stadium.
The triumph means RCB, with 12 points aft 8 matches, has topped the league signifier and qualified for the last connected February 5. Barring a mathematical miracle, Warriorz volition beryllium headed for the exit doorway aft the last league fixture against Delhi Capitals connected Sunday (February 1).
While de Klerk acceptable up the triumph with a four-for to restrict Warriorz to 143 for eight, Harris’ pyrotechnics – 75 disconnected 37 balls (13x4, 2x6) -- helped the 2024 champion sound disconnected the humble people successful 13.1 overs. Smriti played her portion with an unbeaten 54.
Harris made her intentions wide successful the PowerPlay. She took a liking to Kranti Gaud, punishing the 22-year-old seamer for 5 fours successful the 3rd implicit with a gleeful grin. By the clip Warriorz could instrumentality a strategical timeout, Harris had contributed 49 to RCB’s people of 63 for nary nonaccomplishment successful six overs. Harris’ half-century came disconnected 28 deliveries successful the seventh over. The landmark was reached with a interaction of flamboyance arsenic Harris sent Asha Sobhana’s flighted transportation sailing implicit long-on.
When Warriorz batted first, they simply couldn’t physique connected an opening confederation of 74 betwixt Deepti Sharma (55, 43b, 6x4, 1x6) and Meg Lanning (41, 30b, 6x4, 1x6). Until de Klerk removed Lanning for the breakthrough successful the ninth over, Warriorz seemed to beryllium progressing serenely. The Australian gave herself country to deed a afloat shot inside-out, but could lone portion it to Radha Yadav astatine heavy point.
De Klerk’s aureate limb yielded a 2nd wicket 4 deliveries aboriginal erstwhile Amy Jones was trapped leg-before. That the South African took 2 much wickets and conceded conscionable six runs successful the last implicit of the Warriorz innings was emblematic of however the evening panned out.
