De Klerk's 4-Wicket Haul Powers RCB to WPL 2026 Final After Victory Over UP

Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a convincing eight-wicket victory over UP Warriorz, bouncing back from two consecutive losses. South African all-rounder Nadine De Klerk was instrumental, taking a four-wicket haul (4-22) to become the season's Purple Cap holder. De Klerk credited the team's bowling unit and Player of the Match Grace Harris for their crucial contributions in the win. The victory seals RCB's place in the Women's Premier League 2026 final, scheduled for February 5 in Vadodara.

Key Points: RCB Beats UP Warriorz, Reaches WPL 2026 Final | De Klerk

  • De Klerk's 4-22 secures win
  • RCB rebounds from two losses
  • Grace Harris named Player of the Match
  • Team clinches WPL final spot
  • Bowling unit praised for tournament performance
2 min read

WPL 2026: 'It's great to be back to winning ways,' says De Klerk after RCB beat UP

Nadine De Klerk takes 4-22 as RCB secures WPL final berth. She credits Grace Harris and team's bowling unit for the crucial win.

"It's great to get back to the winning ways; it's great to contribute as well. - Nadine De Klerk"

Vadodara, Jan 30

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's premier all-rounder Nadine De Klerk said that the magnificent eight-wicket win against UP Warriorz, which came after two losses, will boost the team's morale ahead of the Women's Premier League 2026 final, which will be played on February 5 at the BCA stadium.

South Africa's all-rounder took a four-wicket haul and finished with great numbers of 4-22. With that spell, she also became the purple cap holder of the season with 15 wickets to her name. After the win, she credited the player of the match, Grace Harris, for taking two important wickets after coming to bowl after a long time.

"I had a good laugh on the boundary when I saw a warm-up. And it's great to have so many options. Obviously, as involved as the whole tournament is, coming on and picking up two for 20 is a pretty good effort. Obviously, we were a bit under pressure being 70 for 9 after 6 or 7 overs," De Klerk said in a video shared by WPL.

"So, I think the bowlers have done really well to pull that back. And as Ray said, really throw that first punch and get back to winning ways. I think it's really important to have momentum going into a final."

De Klerk praised the team's bowling effort and multiple options, which helped RCB secure WPL final berth.

"So, it's great to get back to the winning ways; it's great to contribute as well. As I said, I think we've been really good; our bowling unit has been really good over the course of this tournament. So, it's just great to contribute as well. Making finals is something new for me. Anyway, it'll be good," she said.

Smriti Mandhana's team finished the group stage with six wins in eight matches. They also remained on top of the points table for the whole season.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Momentum is everything before a final. This win was crucial after those two losses. Smriti's captaincy has been top-class. Hoping they carry this confidence into the final on Feb 5!
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Aman W
Great to see Grace Harris contributing with the ball too! Having multiple options is what makes a champion side. RCB looks balanced and hungry. The final should be a cracker.
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Sarah B
As a neutral fan, it's fantastic to see the quality of cricket in WPL. De Klerk's purple cap is well-deserved. The league is doing wonders for women's cricket in India and globally.
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Karthik V
While the win is great, I hope they don't get overconfident. The top order was 70/9 at one point, which is a serious concern. The final opponent won't let that slide. Batting needs to be more solid.
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Nisha Z
Smriti Mandhana leading from the front! Topping the table for the whole season is no small feat. The team has a winning habit now. Ee Sala Cup Namde... finally for the women's team? 😄

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