Nadine de Klerk steers Bengaluru to stunning last-ball victory.
Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 kicked off with electrifying drama at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday. In a match that swung like a pendulum, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) snatched a breathless three-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) on the very last ball, setting a high standard for the tournament. The highly anticipated RCB Women vs MI Women clash was defined by a spectacular all-round performance from South African star Nadine de Klerk.
Mumbai Indians Recover from Early Blows
Put in to bat by RCB captain Smriti Mandhana, Mumbai Indians faced early turbulence. The defending champions struggled to find momentum, losing key wickets cheaply, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur and star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt. By the 10th over, MI was teetering at 67 for 4.
However, a gritty partnership between Nicola Carey and Sajeevan Sajana rescued the innings. Sajana played a fiery knock of 45 off just 25 balls, while Carey anchored with a steady 40. Their efforts propelled Mumbai to a competitive total of 154/6 in their 20 overs. RCB's bowling was disciplined, but it was Nadine de Klerk who destroyed the MI top order, claiming stunning figures of 4 for 26.
RCB’s Top Order Collapse
Chasing 155, Bengaluru's start was nothing short of a nightmare. Despite a quickfire 25 from Grace Harris, the team collapsed under pressure from the Mumbai bowlers. Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail were lethal, reducing RCB to a precarious 65 for 5 in the 8th over. With the top order back in the hut, it looked like an easy win for the Mumbai franchise.
The De Klerk Rescue Act
Just when hope seemed lost for RCB, Nadine de Klerk returned to center stage, this time with the bat. Showing immense composure, she built a match-winning partnership with Arundhati Reddy (20). De Klerk smashed an unbeaten 63 off 44 balls, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes to drag her team back into the contest.
The match went down to the wire, requiring nerves of steel in the final over. With the scores tied, Prema Rawat held her nerve, and RCB crossed the finish line with zero balls to spare, finishing at 157/7. This thrilling RCB Women vs MI Women encounter has certainly set the tone for an exciting season ahead.
