Royal Challengers Bengaluru cemented their standing because the crew to beat in WPL 2026, delivering a clinical eight-wicket demolition of the UP Warriorz to punch their ticket on to the grand ultimate. This high-stakes victory in Vadodara noticed the defending champions keep their composure below strain, successfully neutralizing a harmful opposition by means of tactical superiority and particular person brilliance. By ending on the summit of the factors desk, Smriti Mandhana’s facet has bypassed the Eliminator, incomes a well-deserved week of relaxation earlier than the last word showdown.
WPL 2026: Grace Harris unleashes a power-hitting masterclass together with Smriti Mandhana for RCB
Grace Harris as soon as once more proved to be the last word game-changer, haunting her former franchise with a savage 75 off simply 39 balls to make a mockery of the 144-run goal. Opening the batting alongside captain Mandhana, Harris wasted no time in asserting dominance, dismantling the Warriorz’ powerplay technique with a flurry of boundaries that cleared the ropes with ease. Her innings was a calculated assault, that includes 9 fours and 4 towering sixes as she reached her half-century in simply 22 deliveries, successfully killing the competition throughout the first eight overs.
The Australian all-rounder’s capacity to control the sector and goal particular bowlers left Meg Lanning with out solutions, as Harris shared a record-breaking 108-run opening stand in below 10 overs. Though she ultimately fell within the thirteenth over, her dismissal was a mere formality, because the required price had plummeted to lower than three runs per over. This efficiency solidified her place as a prime contender for the Orange Cap and showcased her fame as one of the crucial damaging finishers within the girls’s sport.
Mandhana, watching the carnage from the most effective seat in the home, offered the proper foil with a gradual unbeaten 54, guaranteeing the chase was accomplished with 41 balls to spare. The sheer velocity of Harris’s knock not solely secured the 2 factors but additionally offered an enormous increase to RCB’s web run price, leaving little question about their championship credentials.
Additionally WATCH: WPL 2026: Grace Harris rips through UP Warriorz middle order with key wickets of Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon
RCB’s bowling unit Nadine de Klerk stifles the UP Warriorz
The inspiration of RCB’s triumph was laid by a disciplined bowling efficiency that restricted a harmful Warriorz lineup to a sub-par whole of 143/8. After electing to discipline, the Bengaluru bowlers have been pressured to remain affected person as Meg Lanning (40) and Deepti Sharma (55) constructed a gradual 74-run platform for the guests. The breakthrough lastly got here through Nadine de Klerk, who produced a sensational triple-wicket burst to complete with career-best figures of 4/22, successfully derailing the center order in a matter of minutes.
Harris additionally made important contributions with the ball, outfoxing Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon to say 2/22 and set off a collapse that noticed the Warriorz lose 4 wickets for simply 11 runs. Shreyanka Patil offered the ending touches, eradicating the set Deepti Sharma within the penultimate over to make sure there was no late-innings flourish for the opposition. Lauren Bell remained characteristically miserly on the different finish, conceding solely 21 runs from her 4 overs whereas making use of relentless strain on the brand new batters.
The collective effort from the bowling unit meant that the Warriorz, regardless of having wickets in hand early on, by no means discovered the acceleration wanted on a floor that started to supply grip for the spinners. Georgia Voll, was equally spectacular, pouching two essential catches to maintain the strain excessive all through the 20 overs. This all-round dominance with the ball allowed the RCB batters to play with freedom, understanding that the goal was effectively beneath the par rating for the Kotambi Stadium.
Right here’s how followers reacted:
FINALE HERE WE COME 👊
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 29, 2026
That is what Grace Harris can do. The queen is again 🥶❤️ pic.twitter.com/cbItj7l45M
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) January 29, 2026
If initially of this WPL season, somebody would’ve instructed me that RCB would immediately play the FINAL after profitable 6 out of their 8 league video games with out Ellyse Perry I’d have by no means believed them. 😅
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) January 29, 2026
What a season this has been for RCB
They end prime of the desk for the primary time within the group stage of the #WPL
One win away from the title now#WPL2026 #UPWvRCB
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) January 29, 2026
Biceps celebration by Grace Harris 🥶 pic.twitter.com/aHc4ODMdEF
— Vivek (@Hailkohli18) January 29, 2026
RCB could not have had the most effective crew on paper, however all through the match this crew has performed the most effective cricket of all groups even with out having Perry and Pooja. Somebody or the opposite has typically stepped up at totally different occasions. Very deserved first spot and ultimate.
— GK (@FCBxRCB) January 29, 2026
RCB makes it to 3 successive finals then!
✅WPL 2024
✅IPL 2025
✅WPL 2026
Time to make it 3 titles in a row! 🏏🤞— Sohini M. (@Mittermaniac) January 29, 2026
🚨 RCB QUALIFIED INTO THE FINAL OF WPL 2026 🚨
– Complete dominance by Smriti Mandhana & her Military. pic.twitter.com/nubJ9bjLyP
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 29, 2026
FINALS CALLING THE LADIES 🤙🏼 pic.twitter.com/XDdstbScaF
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) January 29, 2026
RCB- The primary finalist of #WPL2026 🌟#RCB pic.twitter.com/XyK3zrVetO
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 29, 2026
Additionally READ: Top 5 players to successfully defend lowest runs in final over of WPL matches ft. Sophie Devine
This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times firm.
