Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continued their winning streak in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Monday, dominating UP Warriorz by nine wickets at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy to leap to the top of the points table.
Chasing a modest total of 144, RCB made light work of the target, finishing at 145/1 in just 12.1 overs, leaving 47 balls to spare. Grace Harris was the star of the show, smashing a blistering 85 off 40 balls, earning her the Player of the Match award. Opening alongside Smriti Mandhana, Harris’s destructive hitting, coupled with Mandhana’s elegant strokeplay, set the foundation for a clinical chase.
Captain Smriti Mandhana praised Harris’s innings, saying it was a joy to watch the batters dominate. She also highlighted the bowlers’ collective effort, which restricted UP Warriorz to 143/5 in 20 overs. Lauren Bell impressed with her disciplined bowling, while De Klerk and Patil picked up two wickets apiece.
UP Warriorz, led by Meg Lanning, struggled from the start. The opening pair failed to establish a solid platform, and despite a stabilising partnership between Deepti Sharma (45) and Deandra Dottin (40), they couldn’t recover. Harris’s carnage in the final overs of the Powerplay, including a 32-run over, effectively sealed the contest.
After the match, Harris spoke about her enjoyment in the RCB setup and the special experience of opening alongside Mandhana. Lanning, on the other hand, admitted her side was outplayed and highlighted areas that need tightening as the tournament progresses.
This emphatic win marks RCB’s biggest WPL victory in terms of balls remaining and underscores their intent as serious title contenders. The team now sits at the top of the table with two wins from two games.
Next up in the WPL, defending champions Mumbai Indians face high-flying Gujarat Giants at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on Tuesday, January 13, with the first ball scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.
Source: WPL
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