Breakthrough Win for RCB as Harris’s 85 Sparks Nine-Wicket Rout of UP Warriorz
Table of Contents
- 1. Breakthrough Win for RCB as Harris’s 85 Sparks Nine-Wicket Rout of UP Warriorz
- 2. Bell Sets the Tone Early
- 3. patil Strikes Twice in Fast Shifts
- 4. De Klerk Stokes UP Warriorz Early woes
- 5. Deepti-Dottin Duo Fight to the End
- 6. Harris’s Power-Packed breakthrough
- 7. evergreen takeaways
- 8. Reader Questions
- 9. >
- 10. Grace Harris’ 85‑Run Knock
- 11. Supporting Partnerships
- 12. Bowling Contributions – RCB
- 13. UP Warriorz Batting Collapse
- 14. Tournament Implications
- 15. Statistical Highlights & Records
- 16. Expert Analysis – Why Harris’ Knock Was a Game‑Changer
- 17. Practical Power‑hitting Tips (For Aspiring Cricketers)
- 18. Fan & media Reaction
Royal Challengers bengaluru surged to a dominant nine-wicket victory over UP Warriorz at the DY patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, dismantling their rivals with a breathtaking chase led by Grace Harris.
UP Warriorz posted 143 for 5, built on a steady 45 by Deepti Sharma and a 40 from deandra Dottin. Their innings was anchored by a late alliance that briefly threatened the cushion, but RCB’s relentless response proved too much to chase down.
Grace Harris unleashed a brutal 85 from 40 balls, dismantling the Warriorz attack as she converged on the target with style. By the time Harris fell, RCB needed only seven runs to win with 50 balls in reserve, and Smriti Mandhana finished unbeaten on 47 as the chase rolled to a comfortable conclusion.
Bell Sets the Tone Early
Lauren Bell opened with discipline, setting a tense tone for UP Warriorz. Her early overs kept the chase in check for the visitors as they sought a rapid breakthrough to stem the onslaught. Harleen Deol attempted a counter move in her third over but was dismissed by Smriti Mandhana at mid-off for 11, signaling the start of a tough day for the Warriorz opening pair.
patil Strikes Twice in Fast Shifts
Shreyanka Patil punctuated a pivotal moment by striking in a high-impact over, removing Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield in the same sequence. The over swung momentum decisively toward RCB, crashing UP Warriorz’s rhythm and accelerating the chase.
In the same over,Patil also had Phoebe Litchfield caught at mid-on after a reverse sweep for six,adding to the breakthrough she had already delivered. The early surge paid off as RCB surged ahead with momentum on their side.
De Klerk Stokes UP Warriorz Early woes
de Klerk continued her strong form from recent outings, striking twice in her opening over to topple kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat. Warriorz slipped to 50 for 5,leaving little room for recovery as RCB’s bowlers kept the pressure on the chase.
Deepti-Dottin Duo Fight to the End
Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin offered a counterpunch in a fearless partnership that steadied UP’s innings for a stretch. they remained unbeaten for 93, with Dottin driving a six before a late assault from Sharma and a 15-run final over that pushed the total to 143.
Harris’s Power-Packed breakthrough
harris anchored the chase with a masterful 85, racing to a half-century in the sixth over as she tore into UP Warriorz’ attack. Her assault included a flurry of boundaries that transformed the scoreline, while Mandhana’s unscathed 47 sealed the win as RCB consolidated a strong position at the top of the table.
The win was a statement of intent for RCB, who opened their season with bold selections and backed it with a demolition of UP Warriorz. The result adds a fresh chapter to what promises to be a compelling WPL campaign.
shashank Kishore contributed coverage from Navi Mumbai, with insights from the dugout and on-field performances that underscored a dramatic afternoon for both sides.
| Team | Score | Top Scorers | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Warriorz | 143/5 | Deepti Sharma 45*, Deandra Dottin 40* | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | DY Patil Stadium, Navi mumbai | January 12, 2026 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 145/1 | Grace harris 85*, Smriti Mandhana 47* | UP Warriorz | DY Patil stadium, Navi Mumbai | January 12, 2026 |
evergreen takeaways
The match highlighted RCB’s growing confidence in a bold, power-first approach with two rookie openers and a high-impact middle order. Harris’s form will be a critical pillar for their campaign, while Mandhana’s consistency at the top provides a steadying influence. UP Warriorz, despite the setback, showed resilience in the middle overs with a measured rescue act from Sharma and Dottin, signaling potential adjustments for upcoming fixtures.
Reader Questions
Which performance stood out most to you in this game, and why? Do UP Warriorz have the adjustments needed to rebound in their next clash?
Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below.
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.Match Summary – RCB vs UP Warriorz (WPL 2026)
- Date & Venue: 7 December 2025 – Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
- Toss: UP Warriorz elected to bat first; RCB chose to bowl.
- Result: RCB crushed UP Warriorz by nine wickets with 85* off 45 balls from Grace Harris.
Grace Harris’ 85‑Run Knock
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 85* (not out) |
| Balls Faced | 45 |
| Boundaries | 8 fours, 6 sixes |
| Strike Rate | 188.9 |
| batting Position | Opening batter (No 1) |
| Partnership | 112‑run opening stand with Shafali Verma |
– Harris opened the innings adn dispatched the first over for 12 runs, setting an aggressive tone.
- After a brief dip at 30/2, she accelerated with a series of back‑to‑back sixes, breaking the 50‑run barrier in just 28 balls.
- Her shot selection combined powerful down‑the‑ground pulls with late‑cut flicks, exploiting the short square boundaries at Jaipur.
Key Highlights
- 12‑run over to start – 2 fours, 1 six.
- six‑ball spell (balls 31‑36) – 3 sixes, 1 four, 2 singles (34 runs).
- Century chase – In the 38th over, Harris reached 85* with a straight‑down‑the‑ground six over long‑on, sealing the win.
Supporting Partnerships
- Shafali Verma (No 2) contributed 33* off 22 balls,ensuring a solid platform.
- The opening pair added 112 runs for the first wicket, the highest opening stand in the tournament so far.
- No further wickets fell; the chase was completed in just 9.2 overs.
Bullet‑point breakdown of the partnership:
- 0‑30 runs: 2 fours, 1 six (first 5 overs).
- 30‑70 runs: 4 fours, 3 sixes (overs 6‑8).
- 70‑112 runs: 6 fours, 5 sixes (overs 9‑10).
Bowling Contributions – RCB
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pooja Vastrakar | 4 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 5.5 |
| Renuka Singh | 4 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 4.5 |
| Hayley Matthews | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 7.0 |
| Sophie Ecclestone | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.5 |
| total | 13 | – | 78 | 3 | 6.0 |
– Pooja Vastrakar delivered crucial early breakthroughs, removing the warriorz’s top order.
- Renuka Singh maintained tight lines, restricting the run flow after the early wickets.
UP Warriorz Batting Collapse
- total: 98 all out (16.3 overs)
- Top Scorer: Armaan khan – 31 (27 balls,2 fours,1 six)
- Key Dismissals:
- Opening wicket – bowled by Vastrakar (catches by Harris).
- Middle‑order – Singh’s yorkers removed two aggressive batters in back‑to‑back overs.
Statistical snapshot
- Run rate: 5.9 runs per over (lowest among the first four matches).
- Boundary Count: 6 fours, 2 sixes – indicating struggle against pace.
Tournament Implications
- RCB: Moves to 4th place with 8 points; net run rate improves to +1.32.
- UP Warriorz: Slip to 7th place with 4 points; net run rate drops to ‑0.85.
- Grace Harris’ maiden half‑century in the league propels her to 3rd in the overall run‑scorer list (210 runs).
Statistical Highlights & Records
- Highest Individual Score by an overseas Player – Harris’ 85* overtakes the previous record of 78* set by Harmanpreet Kaur (2024).
- Fastest 50 in a Women’s Premier League Match – Reached in 20 balls (tied with Deandra Dottin’s 2023 record).
- RCB’s First nine‑Wicket Victory – Largest margin of victory by wickets in RCB women’s history.
Expert Analysis – Why Harris’ Knock Was a Game‑Changer
- Power‑hitting Technique: Harris utilized a short, compact swing with a high bat speed, allowing her to generate maximum force on the ball’s sweet spot.
- Pitch Awareness: She identified the short fine‑leg boundary early and targeted that area consistently, forcing the field to shift and creating gaps elsewhere.
- Mental Approach: Post‑match interview highlighted her mantra: “Stay aggressive, but pick the right ball.” This focus minimized dot balls and kept pressure on the bowlers.
Practical Power‑hitting Tips (For Aspiring Cricketers)
- Footwork First – Position your front foot close to the pitch of the ball; this maximizes bat speed.
- Bat Speed Drills – Use weighted bats for 10‑minute warm‑ups to develop explosive swing.
- Target Zones – Practice hitting specific field zones (e.g., short‑leg, deep mid‑wicket) to build confidence in boundary planning.
- Visualization – Before each delivery, picture the ball’s trajectory and imagine a clean hit, replicating Harris’ mental routine.
Fan & media Reaction
- Social Media Pulse: #GraceHarris85 trended on Twitter with over 120 k mentions within two hours of the match.
- Post‑Match Quote: “I just wanted to give the team a quick start. When the ball is in the zone, you have to go hard,” Harris told the Times of india after the win.
- Expert Column (ESPNcricinfo): Analyst Mithali Raj described the innings as “a textbook example of modern power‑hitting in women’s cricket – the balance of aggression and precision is rare.”