Grace Harris’ explosive 85 off 40 balls powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to an emphatic nine-wicket win over UP Warriorz within the Girls’s Premier League 2026 on Monday, January 12. It was Bengaluru’s largest margin of victory within the event, as they wrapped up the chase with 47 balls to spare whereas Meg Lanning and Co. crumbled with each bat and ball.
RCB had opened their marketing campaign with a nail-biting win over Mumbai Indians.however Harris ensured there have been no late twists this time, bludgeoning the UP bowlers to all components of the park. Smriti Mandhana stayed until the tip with an unbeaten 47, sealing the win and constructing momentum early within the season.
WPL 2026, RCB vs UPW: Highlights
RCB’s chase of 144 started in dominant trend, with Mandhana and Harris taking management from the outset. Whereas Mandhana performed the anchor function, Harris was clearly intent on making an announcement. After RCB’s first recreation raised questions on their batting depth — with extra all-rounders than specialist batters — Harris answered emphatically.
She had proven flashes in opposition to Mumbai Indians earlier than a quick stumble, however on Monday there was no repeat. Harris began briskly, went momentarily quiet as Mandhana showcased her shot-making, after which utterly took over.
The turning level got here within the remaining over of the powerplay, when Harris dismantled Deandre Dottin. The over started with a boundary, adopted by a no-ball. The free hit sailed over the ropes, and Harris adopted it up with one other boundary and two sixes to convey up a 22-ball fifty — an onslaught that successfully ended the competition.
Meg Lanning turned to Sophie Ecclestone, however the harm had already been achieved. Mandhana chipped in with a few boundaries earlier than Harris went after Asha Shobana. By the tip of the eighth over, RCB had raced to 104, leaving UP Warriorz with no manner again.
Harris continued to assault and appeared set to register the primary century of WPL 2026, however Mandhana additionally joined the cost, guaranteeing the Australian must wait. Harris ultimately fell for 85, with the goal already decreased to single digits.
UP Warriors battle with the bat
Earlier, UP Warriorz had been requested to bat after RCB gained the toss, and the innings by no means gained momentum. Meg Lanning opened with Harleen Deol, however the Bengaluru bowlers saved a good leash on the scoring.
Lauren Bell, shortly changing into a fan favourite at RCB, struck early to dismiss Harleen with the rating on simply 21. Phoebe Litchfield then walked in and tried a counter-attack after her spectacular outing in opposition to Gujarat.
Lanning survived an early likelihood, however Radha Yadav ensured it did not price RCB, pulling off a shocking catch to take away the UP skipper. What adopted was collapse somewhat than counter-attack. Litchfield, Kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat all fell within the house of three deliveries, lowering UP Warriorz to 50 for 5 in simply 8.2 overs.
Deepti Sharma, who had fond reminiscences of the Navi Mumbai floor after starring in India’s Girls’s World Cup 2025 triumph, was left to rebuild. She discovered assist in Deandre Dottin, and the pair launched a quick restoration, focusing on Shreyanka Patil.
Whereas the off-spinner picked up the wickets of Lanning and Litchfield in the identical over earlier, she proved costly in a while. A late flourish from Deepti (45) and Dottin (40) lifted UP Warriorz to a decent 143, nevertheless it was by no means going to be sufficient in opposition to Harris’ brilliance. The defeat leaves UP Warriorz rooted to the underside of the desk with two losses from two matches.
Have Warriorz discovered their id?
When UP Warriorz selected to retain only one participant earlier than heading into the public sale with the largest purse, it signaled a full reset. Whereas such rebuilds can typically work — as seen with Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 — they do not all the time assure rapid success.
Regardless of retaining a core and appointing Meg Lanning as captain, many rated UP Warriorz as one of many strongest groups on paper after the public sale. Nevertheless, the opening two matches counsel lingering points round id and chemistry.
The opening mixture stays unsettled, with Lanning partnering Kiran Navgire within the first match and Harleen Deol on Monday. Each pairings failed, setting the tone for below-par batting efforts. The method in stress conditions has additionally been questionable, with batters repeatedly making an attempt to hit their manner out of hassle.
Recreation consciousness seemed to be lacking. Litchfield, who batted at No.3 within the opening match, dropped to No.4 on Monday and in addition threw her wicket away. Lanning was blunt in her post-match evaluation.
“There are some issues that we have to tidy up. With the bat, we by no means acquired going, sadly. We chewed too many dot balls up entrance, together with me. We have to be higher there. Do not need to take something from RCB. They bowled extraordinarily nicely up entrance and by no means allow us to get away. They had been wonderful up entrance, and as soon as they acquired forward, they actually drove the sport house. We’ll evaluation it, see what we will enhance, and transfer ahead,” mentioned. Lanning.
There are clearly a number of areas for UP Warriorz to deal with — however probably the most urgent process stays discovering a transparent id because the event progresses.
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