Royal Challengers Bengaluru absolutely steamrolled UP Warriorz in Match 5 of the Women’s Premier League 2026. RCB chased down the target with ease, winning by 9 wickets and still having 47 balls left in the bank at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on January 12. Grace Harris was on fire, hammering 85 from just 40 balls. She made it look easy out there, and with Smriti Mandhana finishing unbeaten on 47, the whole chase felt like a breeze.
UP Warriorz did have some fight in them, especially with Deepti Sharma scoring 45 (35) and Deandra Dottin chipping in 40 (37). But honestly, their 143 for 5 was never going to cut it against this RCB line-up. Things really fell apart for the Warriorz in the middle overs; they lost four wickets for just 11 runs, and that collapse took the game away from them. They just couldn’t put up a big enough challenge.
Match Summary: RCB vs UPW
Here is the complete match summary of this one-sided contest:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| UP Warriorz Women Score | 143/5 (20 overs) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Score | 145/1 (12.1 overs) |
| Match Result | RCB won by 9 wickets |
| Best Batting (UPW) | Deepti Sharma – 45 off 35 balls (5 fours, 1 six) |
| Best Batting (RCB) | Grace Harris – 85 off 40 balls (10 fours, 5 sixes) |
| Best Bowling (UPW) | Shikha Pandey – 1/28 in 3 overs (Econ: 9.33) |
| Best Bowling (RCB) | Nadine de Klerk – 2/28 in 4 overs (Econ: 7.00) |
| Player of the Match | Grace Harris (RCB) |
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to bowl first. The decision worked out perfectly as Lauren Bell and Nadine de Klerk picked up early wickets. UPW found themselves in deep trouble at 50/5 before Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin steadied the ship with an unbeaten 93-run stand.
UP Warriorz Innings: 143/5 In 20 Overs
UP Warriorz crawled through the powerplay, putting up just 36 runs in six overs and losing Harleen Deol along the way. Lauren Bell didn’t give them much room to breathe either; she bowled her full quota, only gave up 16 runs, and snagged Deol’s wicket.
Meg Lanning, the skipper, just couldn’t get going. She scratched her way to 14 from 21 balls before Shreyanka Patil sent her back. Phoebe Litchfield tried to shake things up, smashing 20 off just 11 balls with three boundaries and a six. But Patil got her too, and suddenly UPW were wobbling at 50 for 3.
Then things really fell apart. Nadine de Klerk struck twice almost instantly, getting rid of Kiran Navgire for 5 and Shweta Sehrawat for a golden duck. In no time, UPW crashed from 39 for 1 to 50 for 5, a collapse of four wickets for just 11 runs.
That’s when Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin pulled them back from the brink. They stitched together an unbeaten 93-run stand for the sixth wicket. Deepti saw it through, finishing on 45 off 35 balls, peppered with five fours and a six. Dottin chipped in with a solid 40 from 37. Their partnership dragged UPW to 143 for 5. It wasn’t a terrible total, but on this pitch, it still felt a bit light.
RCB Chase: 145/1 In 12.1 Overs
RCB didn’t waste any time. Grace Harris went after the bowlers from the very first ball, smashing her way to a fifty in just 22 deliveries. She peppered the boundary with 7 fours and cleared it three times. The Aussie wasn’t in the mood to show any mercy.
Harris and Mandhana opened with a huge partnership, piling up 137 runs for the first wicket. They hit 50 in just 31 balls, then blew past 100 in only 48. RCB raced to 78 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket, and honestly, UPW looked out of it from there.
UPW threw six different bowlers at them, but nobody could slow things down. Deandra Dottin’s only over went for 32 runs, Thats too expensive. Sophie Ecclestone bowled two overs, giving up 20. The fielders seemed worn out, and the bowlers had nothing in the tank.
Harris finally went in the 12th over, caught by Lanning off Shikha Pandey for a blistering 85 from just 40 balls, including 10 fours and 5 sixes. Her strike rate was 212.50. Mandhana was not out on 47 from 32, hitting nine boundaries. Richa Ghosh came in, smacked a quick four, and RCB cruised to the finish. It was never really close.
Key Highlight: Player Of The Match – Grace Harris Dominates
The Australian all-rounder delivered a match-winning knock:
- With the bat: 85 off 40 balls (10 fours, 5 sixes)
- Strike rate: 212.50
- Partnership with Mandhana: 137 runs for the 1st wicket
Harris set the tone right from the start. She took on the bowlers and never let them settle into any rhythm. Her fifty came in record time, and she continued attacking until her dismissal. By the time she got out, the match was already in RCB’s pocket.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: What This Result Means
RCB extended their winning start to WPL 2026 with another convincing victory. This was their second win in two matches, putting them at the top of the points table with 4 points and a strong net run rate. The 2024 champions look in fine form heading into the business end of the league stage.
For UP Warriorz, this defeat exposed some serious concerns. Their middle-order collapse and inability to defend even a modest total will worry the team management. They need to bounce back quickly in their upcoming fixtures.
This match highlighted RCB’s batting depth. With Harris, Mandhana, and others in such fine touch, they will be a tough team to beat this season.
