RCB defeat defending champions MI on last ball in WPL 2026 opener
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 got off to a thrilling start on Friday, with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeating defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) by three wickets in a nail-biting encounter at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Sports Academy. The match went down to the wire, with RCB chasing down the target of 155 runs on the last ball of the innings.
MI, who were put in to bat by RCB, got off to a steady start, with opener Sajeevan Sajana scoring a quickfire 45 off 25 balls. Her innings was marked by some powerful hitting, including five fours and two sixes. However, the rest of the MI batters struggled to get going, with none of them able to score more than 20 runs. The team eventually posted a total of 154-6 in their 20 overs.
The standout performer for RCB with the ball was Nadine de Klerk, who picked up four wickets for 28 runs in her four overs. Her spell was instrumental in restricting MI to a manageable total, and set the tone for RCB’s chase.
In reply, RCB got off to a slow start, with opener Smriti Mandhana falling for just 10 runs. However, De Klerk, who was promoted to number three, took charge of the innings and played a match-winning knock of 63* off 44 balls. Her innings was marked by some excellent strokeplay, including seven fours and a six.
De Klerk was well supported by Richa Ghosh, who scored 24 runs off 22 balls. The two batters added 44 runs for the fourth wicket, and took RCB closer to the target. However, MI fought back, with their bowlers picking up a few quick wickets to make the match interesting.
In the end, it all came down to the last ball, with RCB needing two runs to win. De Klerk, who was still at the crease, smashed the ball to the boundary, securing a thrilling three-wicket win for her team.
The win was a great start for RCB, who will be looking to build on this momentum in the rest of the tournament. For MI, it was a disappointing start to their title defense, but they will be looking to bounce back in their next match.
The WPL 2026 is set to be an exciting tournament, with some of the best female cricketers from around the world taking part. The tournament will feature five teams, including RCB, MI, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz. The teams will play each other in a round-robin format, with the top three teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The WPL is a great initiative to promote women’s cricket in India, and has been a huge success in its first two seasons. The tournament has provided a platform for young female cricketers to showcase their talent, and has helped to increase the popularity of women’s cricket in the country.
In conclusion, the WPL 2026 got off to a thrilling start, with RCB defeating defending champions MI in a nail-biting encounter. The match was a great advertisement for women’s cricket, and set the tone for what promises to be an exciting tournament. With some of the best female cricketers from around the world taking part, the WPL 2026 is definitely one to watch.
About the Author
