Harris' 85* Blitz Powers RCB to 9-Wicket Win Over UPW.

Harris' 85* Blitz Powers RCB to 9-Wicket Win Over UPW.

RCB vs UPW, WPL 2026 Highlights: Harris’ Brutal 85 Leads RCB to Nine-Wicket Win.


                    Welcome to the comprehensive highlights of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and UP Warriorz (UPW), played on January 12, 2026, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

            In a dominant display, RCB chased down UP Warriorz's total with ease, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with 47 balls to spare. This win marked RCB's second consecutive success in the tournament, propelling them to the top of the table.

The match showcased explosive batting, particularly from Australian powerhouse Grace Harris, whose blistering 85 off just 40 balls dismantled the UPW bowling attack and earned her the Player of the Match award.


Match Summary and Key Performances

UP Warriorz, led by Meg Lanning, opted to bat first after winning the toss (or in line with conditions favoring chasing at DY Patil). They posted a competitive yet underwhelming 143/5 in 20 overs. The innings was built around steady contributions from Deepti Sharma (45*) and Deandra Dottin (40*), who added crucial runs in the middle overs to prevent a collapse.

For RCB, the bowling unit shone brightly. All-rounder Nadine de Klerk claimed 2 wickets for 28 runs, while Shreyanka Patil also picked up 2 scalps despite going for 50. Their disciplined spells restricted UPW from accelerating in the death overs, keeping the target chaseable on a batting-friendly pitch.

In the chase, RCB openers Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana forged a massive 137-run partnership that broke the back of the target. Harris, opening the innings, unleashed pure carnage—racing to a 22-ball fifty (the fastest of the season so far) before powering to 85 off 40 balls, studded with 10 fours and 5 sixes. Her aggressive strokeplay targeted pacers and spinners alike, including a brutal assault on Dottin.

Mandhana complemented her partner perfectly with a classy, unbeaten 47 off 32 balls (9 boundaries), showcasing her trademark elegance. The duo finished the job in just 12.1 overs, with Richa Ghosh coming in briefly to hit the winning runs (4 off 2 balls).

This was one of the most clinical chases in WPL history for RCB, underlining their firepower and momentum after a thrilling come-from-behind win against Mumbai Indians earlier.

Full Scorecard

UP Warriorz Innings: 143/5 (20 overs)
Deepti Sharma: 45*
Deandra Dottin: 40*
Key Fall of Wickets: Early losses put pressure, but middle-order rescue act.
RCB Bowling: Nadine de Klerk 2/28, Shreyanka Patil 2/50, others economical.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings: 145/1 (12.1 overs)
Grace Harris: 85 (40 balls, 10x4, 5x6) – c Lanning b Shikha Pandey
Smriti Mandhana: 47* (32 balls, 9x4)
Richa Ghosh: 4* (2 balls)
UPW Bowling: Shikha Pandey 1/28 (only wicket).

Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 9 wickets (with 47 balls remaining). Player of the Match: Grace Harris.

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Toss, Venue, and Conditions

The match took place at the iconic DY Patil Stadium, known for its true bounce and short boundaries—ideal for high-scoring games. The evening conditions favored batting second, with dew potentially playing a role, though RCB's bowlers managed to keep UPW in check.

Toss occurred at 7:00 PM IST, with the match starting at 7:30 PM IST. The venue was packed despite it being a Monday, reflecting the growing popularity of the WPL.

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Lineups and Squads

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana (c), Grace Harris, D. Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell, Gautami Naik.

Full Squad: Includes Georgia Voll, Prema Rawat, Pooja Vastrakar, Prathyoosha Kumar.

UP Warriorz (Playing XI): Meg Lanning (c), Kiran Navgire, Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Deandra Dottin, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey.

Full Squad: Kranti Goud, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Charli Knott, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G. Trisha, Pratika Rawal.

RCB's batting depth, featuring international stars like Harris, Mandhana, and Ghosh, proved decisive.

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Key Moments and Turning Points
Early Wickets for RCB: UPW lost quick wickets, putting them on the back foot.
Dottin-Deepti Rescue: The pair added vital runs to post a defendable total.
Harris Explosion: From ball one, Harris attacked, hitting massive sixes and finding gaps effortlessly. Her 32-run over against Dottin was a highlight.
Mandhana's Composure: While Harris provided fireworks, Mandhana anchored with precise timing.

Harris Dismissal: A late wicket (caught at point by Lanning off Pandey) denied a century, but the game was long over.

Winning Moment: Mandhana and Ghosh sealed it with boundaries in the 13th over.

Grace Harris' post-match comments reflected her joy: She praised the RCB setup, enjoyed opening with Mandhana's calm presence, and noted the batting-friendly conditions helped her aggressive approach.

What This Means for the Tournament

RCB now sit atop the WPL 2026 points table with two wins from two, boasting an excellent net run rate boosted by this thrashing. UP Warriorz, defending champions from a prior edition (though 2024 winners were RCB in some contexts), are yet to win and sit at the bottom after two losses.

This performance signals RCB as serious contenders, with their batting lineup looking unstoppable. For UPW, execution on the field and better starts will be key moving forward.

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The WPL 2026 continues to deliver thrilling cricket, with power-hitting like Harris' reminding fans why the league is a global spectacle. Stay tuned for more updates!