Harris & Mandhana Fire RCB into WPL 2026 Final with 8-Wicket Rout

Chasing 144, RCB made light work of the target, finishing the chase in just 13.1 overs on the back of commanding half-centuries by Grace Harris and skipper Smriti Mandhana. Harris smashed a fluent 75, while Mandhana anchored the innings with an unbeaten 54.

The opening pair set the tone early, racing to 63 runs in the Power-play before stitching together a 108-run stand in just 9.1 overs. Harris was eventually dismissed by Shikha Pandey, but the damage had already been done.

Georgia Voll added a brisk 16 during a 35-run partnership with Mandhana before falling to Asha Sobhana. The RCB skipper, who reached her fifty shortly before Voll's dismissal, sealed the win in style with a boundary off Deepti Sharma.

Earlier, UP Warriorz posted 143/8 after being asked to bat first, courtesy of a strong start from skipper Meg Lanning and a composed knock by Deepti. The duo put on 74 runs for the opening wicket, including 50 in the Power-play, UPW's first 50-plus opening stand of the season.

Lanning looked set for a big score before being dismissed for 41 by Nadine de Klerk, who also removed debutant Amy Jones soon after to swing momentum RCB's way.

Deepti held the innings together with a resilient 43-ball 55, but regular wickets at the other end prevented UPW from accelerating in the latter stages. De Klerk was the standout bowler for RCB, finishing with figures of 4-22, while Grace Harris chipped in with two wickets.

UPW's below-par total and ineffective Power-play bowling proved costly, bringing an end to their playoff hopes. RCB, meanwhile, continued their dominant run to secure a spot in the final with an emphatic performance.

Brief scores:

UP Warriorz 143/8 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 55, Meg Lanning 41; Nadine de Klerk 4-22, Grace Harris 2-22) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 147/2 in 13.1 overs (Grace Harris 75, Smriti Mandhana 54*; Shikha Pandey 1-36, Asha Sobhana 1-24) by 8 wickets.

- IANS