🏏WPL 2026: Match 5: UPW vs RCBW at Navi Mumbai on 12/01/26🏏 - Page 2

After a thriller to get off the mark, Royal Challengers Bengaluru would aim to kick on against UP Warriorz in what has been one of WPL's most evenly-contested rivalries (see head to head below).

RCB will move forward riding high on momentum following a thrilling last-ball victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians on the opening night, courtesy of Nadine de Klerk's finishing masterclass. That said, their batting felt the pinch from the void left behind by Ellyse Perry, who withdrew from this season due to personal reasons, and a fresh injury delaying the much-anticipated comeback of Pooja Vastrakar. The new opening pairing of Grace Harris with skipper Smriti Mandhana was an instant success, even though it didn't last very long in the game. However, with as many as two setbacks to what would have been their strongest XI, RCB fell short on the batting front.

Reeling at 65/5 in a sub-par chase against MI they did find a new hero, though. De Klerk had unfinished business at the DY Patil Stadium, and she showed her finishing prowess with a 6,4,6,4 sequence against the experienced Nat Sciver-Brunt when the team needed 18 off four balls to pull off the unthinkable. The bowling match-ups weren't played right too, but it's the batting that commands an immediate look-in.

While RCB got on the board in a dramatic fashion, UP Warriorz will be hunting for their first points on Monday. They were left licking their wounds after a narrow 10-run loss to the Gujarat Giants. Set a tournament record target of 208, UPW showed incredible spirit to reach 197, led by an explosive 78 from Phoebe Litchfield. While their batting came good despite collective failure of Indian batters, the formidable bowling department too is under-fire after conceding 200-plus. Barring Sophie Ecclestone, who was the pick of the bowlers with 2/32, none of the other five bowlers deployed conceded less than 9.7 RPO.

What to expect: Another flat surface and conditions feasible for a high-scoring encounter.

Originally posted by: SoniRita

🏏WPL 2026: Match 1: UPW vs RCBW at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai on 12/01/26 @7:30PM IST🏏

After a thriller to get off the mark, Royal Challengers Bengaluru would aim to kick on against UP Warriorz in what has been one of WPL's most evenly-contested rivalries (see head to head below).

RCB will move forward riding high on momentum following a thrilling last-ball victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians on the opening night, courtesy of Nadine de Klerk's finishing masterclass. That said, their batting felt the pinch from the void left behind by Ellyse Perry, who withdrew from this season due to personal reasons, and a fresh injury delaying the much-anticipated comeback of Pooja Vastrakar. The new opening pairing of Grace Harris with skipper Smriti Mandhana was an instant success, even though it didn't last very long in the game. However, with as many as two setbacks to what would have been their strongest XI, RCB fell short on the batting front.

Reeling at 65/5 in a sub-par chase against MI they did find a new hero, though. De Klerk had unfinished business at the DY Patil Stadium, and she showed her finishing prowess with a 6,4,6,4 sequence against the experienced Nat Sciver-Brunt when the team needed 18 off four balls to pull off the unthinkable. The bowling match-ups weren't played right too, but it's the batting that commands an immediate look-in.

While RCB got on the board in a dramatic fashion, UP Warriorz will be hunting for their first points on Monday. They were left licking their wounds after a narrow 10-run loss to the Gujarat Giants. Set a tournament record target of 208, UPW showed incredible spirit to reach 197, led by an explosive 78 from Phoebe Litchfield. While their batting came good despite collective failure of Indian batters, the formidable bowling department too is under-fire after conceding 200-plus. Barring Sophie Ecclestone, who was the pick of the bowlers with 2/32, none of the other five bowlers deployed conceded less than 9.7 RPO.

Thanks for the tag, Soni!

18:30 Local Time, 13:00 GMT: Game 5 of WPL 2026 sees Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on UP Warriorz, with both sides still very much in the early stages of their campaigns after just one outing each. RCB will take plenty of confidence from their dramatic opening-night win against Mumbai Indians, a game they stole at the death thanks to Nadine de Klerk’s sensational finishing. It was a reminder of the depth and firepower they have, even when things don’t go to plan. UP Warriorz, meanwhile, are settling into a new-look setup under Meg Lanning and Abhishek Nayar. They showed encouraging signs in their first game, where they almost chased down 200+ against Gujarat Giants, players like Phoebe Litchfield and few others gave them plenty to build on, even if the result didn’t quite go their way. Two teams still finding their rhythm, two sets of match-winners on show - RCB versus UP Warriorz should make for another compelling contest

Game 5 of WPL 2026 sees Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on UP Warriorz, with both sides still very much in the early stages of their campaigns after just one outing each. RCB will take plenty of confidence from their dramatic opening-night win against Mumbai Indians, a game they stole at the death thanks to Nadine de Klerk’s sensational finishing. It was a reminder of the depth and firepower they have, even when things don’t go to plan. UP Warriorz, meanwhile, are settling into a new-look setup under Meg Lanning and Abhishek Nayar. They showed encouraging signs in their first game, where they almost chased down 200+ against Gujarat Giants, players like Phoebe Litchfield and few others gave them plenty to build on, even if the result didn’t quite go their way. Two teams still finding their rhythm, two sets of match-winners on show.

Pitch and Conditions: "It's game number 5 of Season 4, RCB taking on UP Warriors. Let's start with the dimensions first because there is a bias here tonight. On my right is the longest side, 61 metres. On my left is the shorter one, 53. Straight down is 66. It's been very high-scoring. This is actually the pitch that we used on the first night. So, RCB have played on this, and ironically, that was the lowest-scoring game that we've had so far. I spoke to the curator and he said he's taken a little bit of grass off this now. So, I wouldn't be surprised if we see another high-scoring game tonight. There's been some differences between the bowlers. So, it's actually been very seam-dominant so far. So, they've taken 35 wickets at an economy of about 8.5, whereas the spinners, they're getting hit into the very, very furthest parts of the stands - they've only taken 18 wickets, and they're going around 10. High-scoring affair, but as a bowler, try and hit the stumps, attack the stumps. Well, the dew factor hasn't been matched so far, and that's the reason three out of the four games have been defended successfully. So, you want to chase, but batting first, it's not a bad idea," inform Deep Dasgupta and Kate Cross.

Meg Lanning: We would have chased as well. You have to bat really well here. Hopefully we can get off to a good start and give ourselves a chance. We chased well and kept ourselves in the game, and we also created a lot of chances with the ball - we just didn’t take them. Against good sides, that makes a difference, but there’s still a lot to take confidence from. We’ve had a good week together leading into the first game, but the first match is always a bit chaotic with a new group. Now that it’s out of the way, hopefully we can keep improving and get a win tonight. Same side.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women have won the toss and have opted to field

Smriti Mandhana: We would like to field first today. We have seen dew come in the later half of the game, we also won the previous game by chasing. DY Patil has been a big chasing ground, any total is not good enough, even yesterday Delhi nearly got there, it’s always good to know what you’re working towards on a ground like this. Nadine really got us through in bowling and batting, in a tournament like this, different players will stand up in different games, it is about contributions and we all want to contribute especially as a top order. One change - Gautami comes in for Prema.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

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

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

de Klerk to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, Deepti takes advantage of the free-hit. She takes a couple of steps down, converts it into a full toss and slams it over mid-off. The fielder was inside the ring and Deepti got enough to clear her

UPW 100/5 after 16 overs.