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Deepti Sharma's 55, Lanning's 41 power UPW to 143/8 in WPL 2026 thriller

UP Warriorz posted a competitive 143/8 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a crucial WPL 2026 match. Captain Meg Lanning provided a fiery start with 41 runs, forming a 74-run opening partnership with Deepti Sharma. However, the innings was disrupted by a brilliant bowling spell from Nadine de Klerk, who took 4 wickets for 22 runs. Deepti Sharma anchored the innings with a resilient 55 from 43 balls to ensure a defendable total.

Key Points: WPL 2026: UPW 143/8 vs RCB - Deepti, Lanning Shine

  • 74-run opening stand
  • Deepti Sharma's resilient 55
  • Nadine de Klerk's 4-wicket haul
  • Must-win encounter for UPW
  • Second-highest Power-play score
3 min read

WPL 2026: Deepti, Lanning take UPW to 143/8 despite de Klerk's bowling masterclass

UP Warriorz post 143/8 vs RCB. Deepti Sharma scores 55, Meg Lanning 41. Nadine de Klerk takes 4-22 in a bowling masterclass.

"The Warriorz skipper made a solid start and looked well set for a big innings - Match Report"

Vadodara, Jan 29

Skipper Meg Lanning's early blitz and all-rounder Deepti Sharma's resilient knock of 55 from 43 balls helped UP Warriorz post a decent total of 143/8 in 20 overs in the must-win encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 18th match of the Women's Premier League 2026 at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium at Kotambi, in Vidarbha on Thursday.

The Warriorz started well after being put to bat first, and their new opening combination worked out really well as Lanning and Deepti stitched a brilliant partnership to put up 50 runs in the Power-play without losing their wickets.

It was the first 50-plus opening stand in seven innings for UPW this season and the second-highest Power-play score for the side this year after 56/1 against the Mumbai Indians.

The Warriorz skipper made a solid start and looked well set for a big innings, but her stay on the crease was cut short by Nadine de Klerk, who dismissed Lanning (41) off her very first delivery in the game in the ninth over and put an end to the UPW openers' 74-run stand.

Amy Jones (1), who made her debut for UPW ahead of their crucial encounter, had an outing to forget in her maiden WPL game as the South African all-rounder scalped a second wicket in her over to send the English wicketkeeper-batter back to the dugout.

The Warriorz lost momentum after the fall of two quick wickets, and Grace Harris only added fuel to the fire in the 12th over with the wicket of Harleen Deol, who walked back to the pavilion scoring a run-a-ball 14.

While Deepti stood safe at one end, she saw her teammates losing their wickets at short intervals as Chloe Tryon (6) was stumped by Richa Ghosh off Grace Harris' delivery in the 14th over. The spin-bowling all-rounder went on to raise her bat for a 40-ball fifty and looked to get going after reaching the landmark, only to fall off the final delivery of the penultimate over against Shreyanka Patil.

De Klerk bowled a brilliant final over as the game unfolded as a tale of two halves. After dismissing English spin-bowling all-rounder Sophie Ecclestone (0) off the second delivery, the Protea seamer had Simran Sheikh caught at long-on by Arundhati Reddy as the Warriorz closed their innings, scoring 143 runs at the loss of eight wickets, courtesy of Lanning's early onslaught and the late stability provided by Deepti.

Brief scores:

UP Warriorz 143/8 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 55, Meg Lanning 41; Nadine de Klerk 4-22, Grace Harris 2-22) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Nadine de Klerk was on fire! 4 wickets for 22 runs in a T20 game is exceptional bowling. She completely changed the momentum. RCB's bowling attack looks very strong this season.
P
Priya S
The opening partnership was brilliant, but the middle order just vanished after Lanning got out. Amy Jones' debut was disappointing, and Harris/Deol couldn't build. 143 is defendable, but they left 15-20 runs out there.
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Rohit P
Respectfully, the team management needs to look at the batting order. Why send Tryon so high when she's struggling? Should have given someone like Simran Sheikh a chance to build with Deepti. Tactics cost us a bigger total.
M
Meera T
Lanning's 41 was pure class! She gave the perfect start. Hope our bowlers can defend this. The match is in Vidarbha, so the pitch might help the spinners in the second innings. Come on, Warriorz! 💪
D
David E
Great to see the WPL getting such competitive cricket. The standard keeps improving every year. De Klerk vs. Lanning was a fantastic battle. This is why we watch the league!

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