RCB defeat defending champions MI on last ball in WPL 2026 opener
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 kicked off in thrilling fashion on Friday, with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pulling off a stunning three-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The match went down to the wire, with RCB chasing down the 155-run target on the very last ball of the innings.
MI, who were looking to start their title defense on a high note, won the toss and opted to bat first. The decision seemed to pay off initially, as the defending champions got off to a solid start. Sajeevan Sajana was the star of the show for MI, scoring a quickfire 45 off just 25 balls to give her team a flying start. However, the RCB bowlers fought back well, with Nadine de Klerk picking up four wickets to restrict MI to 154-6 in their 20 overs.
De Klerk’s spell was the turning point of the innings, as she removed the dangerous Sajana and then followed it up with the wickets of MI’s middle order. Her four-wicket haul helped RCB restrict MI to a manageable total, and the team would have been confident of chasing it down.
And chase it down they did, albeit in dramatic fashion. RCB got off to a slow start, losing a few early wickets to leave themselves in a precarious position. However, De Klerk, who had already made an impact with the ball, stepped up with the bat to play a match-winning innings. She smashed 63 off 44 balls, remaining unbeaten as RCB chased down the target on the last ball of the innings.
The chase was not without its hiccups, as RCB lost a few wickets in the middle overs to leave themselves needing a significant amount of runs in a short amount of time. However, De Klerk remained calm and composed, playing some brilliant shots to keep her team in the hunt. She was ably supported by the RCB lower order, who chipped in with some valuable runs to help their team get over the line.
The win was a thrilling one for RCB, who would have been thrilled to get their WPL 2026 campaign off to a winning start. The team showed great character and resilience to chase down the target, and will be looking to build on this momentum as they move forward in the tournament.
For MI, the loss would have been a disappointing one, especially given that they were defending champions. However, the team will know that they have the talent and the depth to bounce back from this loss, and will be looking to regroup and come back stronger in their next match.
The WPL 2026 is shaping up to be a thrilling tournament, with several teams looking like they have the potential to go all the way. RCB’s win over MI has set the tone for the rest of the tournament, and fans can expect plenty of exciting matches in the days to come.
In terms of individual performances, De Klerk was the standout player of the match, with her four-wicket haul and unbeaten 63 making her the clear player of the match. Sajana’s 45 for MI was also a notable performance, and the young player will be one to watch out for in the rest of the tournament.
Overall, the WPL 2026 opener was a thrilling match that had everything – big hits, stunning catches, and a nail-biting finish. RCB’s win over MI has set the tone for the rest of the tournament, and fans can expect plenty of exciting matches in the days to come.
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