RCB vs UP Warriorz, WPL 2026 Highlights: Smriti Mandhana, Grace Harris take RCB into finals

What's next? One finalist has been confirmed, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru now able to put their feet up and watch how the rest of the league stage unfolds. Despite this defeat, UP Warriorz are mathematically alive, but it will take some drastic results for them to progress. With two games left in the league stage, two spots remain up for grabs, and four teams are still in contention. Up next, the Gujarat Giants take on the Mumbai Indians on Friday, 30th January. A win for Gujarat would see them through to the Eliminator, while a Mumbai victory would all but seal their place given their healthy net run rate, though they would have to wait until the last league game for confirmation. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but as always, you can join us early for the build-up. See you then. Cheers!

Grace Harris is the Player of the Match - It was an all-round show from the Aussie, 2/22 with the ball and a 37-ball 75 with the bat. She giggles and says that she is glad to be classified as an all-rounder for the game, and adds that she was happy when Smriti Mandhana gave her the ball. Mentions that she has been working on a few things with the bat, has kind of reverted to older patterns, and that it seems to be working as she feels more free and happy. Shares that she has worked on her head position and made some technical tweaks, which have allowed her access to more parts of the ground. She explains that they go through tactical discussions on how to approach a spinner, whether to play from the crease or step out, and that she is trying not to overthink. States that she is fairly powerful and often in an advantageous position compared to others, so she tries to cash in when she can and free herself up. On her partnership with Mandhana, Harris smiles and replies that when they glove-tap, she is the one using all the oxygen, while Smriti remains composed, knows her game, she allows Harris to talk freely, and helps her refocus. Grace also shares that Smriti gives her a bit of a heads-up on what ball is coming.

The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Smriti Mandhana says that UP Warriorz started really well with the bat, and she is pleased with the way her bowlers fought back from there. She gives special praise to Grace Harris for coming in to bowl for the first time in the tournament and picking up two crucial wickets, while also crediting Nadine De Klerk and the rest of the attack for chipping in and executing their plans well. Mandhana adds that over the last couple of games, the focus has been on staying practical and not getting carried away emotionally. She feels the team has played good cricket throughout the tournament and believes consistency in messaging from the support staff, whether in wins or losses, has helped keep the group grounded. Looking ahead, Mandhana says the players will enjoy a short break to switch off before coming back together to prepare for the final.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

The dot ball queen has a word - Lauren Bell says that they started the tournament really strongly and she is delighted to qualify for the final. She adds that it is nice to get a bit of downtime before the final. Shares that the ball is coming out of her hand nicely. She mentions that she is clear about her role and what Smriti Mandhana wants from her, and is happy to contribute in whatever way the team needs. When asked about their thoughts when they saw Deepti Sharma coming out to open with Meg Lanning, Bell replies that they had prepared for a few different options. She explains that the options for her against a left-hander are to target the pads and angle the ball across her. She feels there was a bit more bounce on offer for her tonight. Bell also believes they could have posted a strong total had they batted first.

The captain of UP Warriorz - Meg Lanning says it was a disappointing night for her side. She feels they had a reasonable platform with the bat but could not carry on and convert it into something substantial. She believes it has been a theme through the tournament that every time they get going with the bat, they give it away, making things easier for the opposition. Lanning says that her side did not put in their best performance and could not come up with answers against Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris. She mentions that in T20 cricket, batters need to convert starts. Admits that she got a start, but needed to keep going. Believes that the long break between games did not play a major role and is frank in admitting that RCB outplayed them.

Threw away the start - UP Warriorz will rue a batting collapse that undid all their early good work. For a change, they enjoyed a solid start, cruising to 50 without loss in the Powerplay, with the new opening pair of Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma putting on 74 for the first wicket. But once Meg departed, it became one-way traffic. No UP batter showed the resolve to dig in alongside Deepti, and the innings unravelled quickly. Nadine De Klerk was the chief tormentor, striking twice up front and then returning to add two more. She now wears the Purple Cap as the leading wicket-taker of the season with 15 scalps. The surprise act was Grace Harris, bowling for the first time this edition and picking up the key wickets of Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon.

CRASH! BANG! WALLOP! It's all over in the blink of an eye. A scintillating batting display from RCB seals the deal in emphatic fashion. Grace Harris brought the power and timing, Smriti Mandhana matched it with elegance and placement, and together they turned the chase into a procession. Every bowler was dominated, and everything on offer was put away with interest. RCB were in cruise control from the word go, dragging the asking rate below six by the end of the Powerplay. At one stage, it felt less like a live contest and more like a rolling highlight reel of boundaries. This was thorough dominance. With this, Royal Challengers Bengaluru complete a double over UP Warriorz, both victories commanding in nature, winning by 9 wickets in Navi Mumbai with 47 balls to spare and following it up with an 8-wicket win here with 41 balls remaining.

Third time lucky!!! RCB had been knocking on the door ever since qualifying for the playoffs, chasing a direct entry into the final. They stumbled twice but have finally broken the jinx and stormed into the final. It was a neat, professional performance this evening, one that fully deserved more than just a place in the final. On this showing, lifting the trophy for a second time would feel perfectly fitting.

13.1: Deepti Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! RCB ARE IN THE FINAL! Flighted, full and outside off with a hint of turn away, Smriti Mandhana gets down on one knee, fetches it from outside off and powers the sweep over mid-wicket for the winning runs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru seal the chase with an eight-wicket victory, with 41 balls to spare.

A consolation wicket for Asha Sobhana. Richa Ghosh joins Smriti Mandhana out in the middle.

12.6: Asha Sobhana to Georgia Voll, OUT! CAUGHT! Just as the scores are level, a wicket falls. Tossed up, full and around middle with a hint of turn away, Voll comes down the track looking for a big heave over the leg side but only manages a top edge. It balloons towards mid off, where Simran Shaikh settles under it and takes the catch cleanly. This will only delay the inevitable.

12.5: Asha Sobhana to Smriti Mandhana, FIFTY FOR MANDHANA! Off just 26 balls, her second half-century this season. Floated and full, around off, Smriti runs down the track and eases it to long off for a run.

12.4: Asha Sobhana to Smriti Mandhana, Turning in from around off, Mandhana goes back and defends it to the off side.

12.3: Asha Sobhana to Smriti Mandhana, Short and on off, punched to covers.

12.2: Asha Sobhana to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Mandhana launches. Asha spots the charge and pulls the length back, sending it short around middle. Smriti adjusts beautifully and muscles it high and handsome over long on for a commanding maximum.

12.1: Asha Sobhana to Georgia Voll, Walks forward and knocks a full ball down to long on for a run.

9 runs more needed for RCB to secure a direct entry into the final. Asha Sobhana comes back. She went for 16 runs in her only over so far.

11.6: Shikha Pandey to Georgia Voll, Pandey lands it on a length around middle and leg, and Voll once again goes for the paddle, guiding it down to fine leg. It races away and the fielder does well near the rope to pull it back. The third umpire checks and confirms it is clean. Just a single taken. Nine needed now.

11.5: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, Angling away from the batter, on a shorter length, Smriti forces it to deep cover for a run.

11.4: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, SIX! Smriti Mandhana has nailed that. Short on middle and sitting up nicely, she swivels quickly and unleashes a powerful pull, sending it soaring over square leg. A statement shot as RCB continue to show their full range.

11.3: Shikha Pandey to Georgia Voll, Gets across the stumps and paddles a length ball down to fine leg for a run.

11.2: Shikha Pandey to Georgia Voll, FOUR! That is shovelled away with intent. Length ball outside off, Voll stays back, brings the bottom hand into play and powers it down towards wide long on to pick up the boundary.

11.1: Shikha Pandey to Georgia Voll, Pandey serves a length ball, around off, Voll again walks across the stumps for the paddle shot but doesn't middle it properly. This time it comes off from the top part of the blade and lobs behind the keeper. They get two runs.

10.6: Sophie Ecclestone to Georgia Voll, Fullish and on middle, Voll eases it down to long on for a run. 24 needed off 54 balls.

10.5: Sophie Ecclestone to Georgia Voll, FOUR! That will break the monotony of dot balls. Flighted around off and skidding in, Voll shuffles across the stumps and uses the pace nicely, paddling it fine past the keeper and down to the fine leg fence.

10.4: Sophie Ecclestone to Georgia Voll, Make it 4 dot balls. Flatter arm ball on middle, Voll stands opened up in her stance as she defends it from the back foot.

10.3: Sophie Ecclestone to Georgia Voll, Gets away with another short ball. Outside off, cut from the back foot to covers. Three dots.

10.2: Sophie Ecclestone to Georgia Voll, Flighted and full, around off, it's driven down to mid off.

10.1: Sophie Ecclestone to Georgia Voll, Short and outside off, Voll cuts but finds the fielder at covers.

Sophie Ecclestone is back on. 0/9 in her 1 over.

9.6: Shikha Pandey to Georgia Voll, At 104.7 kph, not all that short, on middle. Voll swivels and pulls it to deep backward square leg for one.

9.5: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, On a back of a length, outside off, Mandhana guides it behind point and crosses over.

9.4: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Shikha pushes the length up, on off, Mandhana has a swing through the line and plays an uppish drive. Sophie Ecclestone dives to her left at mid on but the ball bounces wide of her and races away.

9.3: Shikha Pandey to Georgia Voll, On a length, on middle and leg, Georgia works it behind square on the leg side for a single to get off the mark.

9.2: Shikha Pandey to Georgia Voll, Full and on middle, driven to mid on by Voll.

A wicket against the run of play. The danger of Grace has been removed, but she has almost put the chase to bed here. Georgia Voll joins Mandhana in the middle.

9.1: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, OUT! CASTLED! End of a knock of high quality from Grace Harris. Shikha returns to the attack and bowls it on a back of a length. She keeps the stumps in play, but the ball stays a bit low. Harris ends up playing all around it as she tries to clip it away on the leg side. It sneaks past the inside edge and shatters the stumps. Harris falls after scoring a well-made 75. 36 needed more, off 65 balls.

8.6: Chloe Tryon to Grace Harris, Flat and short, on off, Harris punches it to long off for a single. 15 runs off Tryon's first over.

8.5: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, Shorter and quicker, on off, Mandhana looks to use the pace and run it down. It is cut off by the sliding short third fielder. They cross.

8.4: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Easy pickings! A hat-trick of fours for the RCB skipper. Chloe errs in line on a full ball. Sprays it on the pads, Mandhana does not miss out as she sweeps it past short fine leg for another boundary.

8.3: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! This time, behind square and Smriti picks up another four. Tryon stays around the wicket and this goes across the left-hander. Mandhana makes use of the angle and guides it between backward point and short third. 100 comes up for RCB.

8.2: Chloe Tryon to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Good shot! Short and sliding across off, Mandhana hangs on the back foot and gets on top of the bounce. She punches it past the diving point fielder for a four.

8.1: Chloe Tryon to Grace Harris, Loosener first up from Tryon, drops it way too short, on off. Harris drags the pull to wide long on for a single.

Chloe Tryon is introduced to the attack.

7.6: Deepti Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, A dot after a cat and mouse battle. First, Deepti bailed out and then on the second go, Smriti returned the favour. The ball was finally delivered, and Mandhana pushed it back to Deepti, who dived to her right to make the stop.

7.5: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, Deepti switches to around the wicket, full and on leg, Harris works it square on the leg side for a single.

There is a mini-conference in the middle. Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone are deep in discussion, plotting ways to put the brakes on this carnage. 

7.4: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, FOUR! Hit flat this time but the result is the same. Deepti stays full and at the sticks, Harris just holds her shape and smacks it back past the bowler. Sharma sticks out her right hand but the ball is past her by then. The umpire was in the firing line, and he did well to get out of the way. No chance for long off.

7.3: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, FOUR! The boundaries keep flowing! Deepti hangs it up there, on middle, Grace gets on the front foot quickly and just swings through the line. She pumps it back over the bowler's head and picks up a boundary.

7.2: Deepti Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Low full toss, on off, Mandhana pats it through covers for a single.

7.1: Deepti Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Nicely done! Deepti drops it short, outside off, Smriti has all the time in the world to rock back and she punches it between point and cover-point for a boundary.

Meg Lanning is looking clueless at the moment. This is insane striking from Grace Harris. Deepti Sharma comes back into the attack. 0/10 in her 1 over so far.

6.6: Asha Sobhana to Grace Harris, FOUR! Simran Shaikh should have done better there! Asha tosses it up, full and on off. Harris presses on the front foot, opens up the front hip and plays the lofted drive wide of long off. Shaikh moves to her left but cannot get her body behind the ball. She looks to make the stop by staying side on but the ball bounces past her and into the ropes. 16 runs off Asha's first over.

6.5: Asha Sobhana to Grace Harris, FOUR! Gets it through! Fractionally short, not all that wide, Harris presses back at first before going back. She waits on it and threads the cut wide of backward point for a four.

6.4: Asha Sobhana to Smriti Mandhana, Offers flight, on a length, on middle. Smriti dances down the track and looks to go over mid-wicket. Mistimes the lofted hit and ends up hitting it down towards long on. Just a single.

6.3: Asha Sobhana to Smriti Mandhana, Sliding across the left-hander, Smriti pushes this full ball to cover.

6.2: Asha Sobhana to Grace Harris, Oh, that kept low! On the shorter side, on off. Harris does well to drop her bat down. She bunts it to long on for a single.

6.1: Asha Sobhana to Grace Harris, SIX! High and handsome! That will be FIFTY FOR HARRIS! She loves batting against UP Warriorz. She achieved her WPL career best score of 85 last time she came up against them and has put on a show once again. Floated up, full and outside off, Harris reaches out in front and mows it over wide long on for a six.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Well begun is half done, and RCB have certainly begun in style. They went on the attack from the word go, with Grace Harris leading the charge and being particularly severe on the UP bowlers. RCB have raced to 63, dragging the asking rate down below six. The only way UP Warriorz can stay alive here is by taking wickets. Can they find a way back?

5.6: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, Very full, moving away in the air, Smriti takes it on the full and drives it to covers, where the fielder dives to her left and makes the stop. 6 runs off the final over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, RCB are 63/0.

5.5: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, Keeps it full again, on middle. Harris wrists it wide of mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

5.4: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, Full and on middle. Harris firmly pushes it back to Shikha. Pandey collects and fakes a throw at the batting end. A bit of frustration creeping in.

5.3: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, FOUR! Just a push and it races away! Shikha hurls it on a length, on middle. Grace leans on and eases herself into the drive. The ball rolls past the stumps, and neither the mid off nor the mid on fielder stands a chance.

5.2: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, Angled into the pads, on a length, Grace works it straight to short fine leg.

5.2: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, Wide! On a good length, shaping down leg. Grace misses out on the tickle. Amy Jones does well to get a hand on it whilst standing up to the stumps and prevents the ball from racing towards the fence.

5.1: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, Curving back into the right-hander, on a length. Harris looks to pick it up off the pads but misses and gets hit on the front pad.

UP Warriorz are left scratching their heads for answers. Shikha Pandey is back.

4.6: Sophie Ecclestone to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Smriti Mandhana joins the party. A loopy delivery, full and right in the slot, and she gets into position early, lofting it cleanly over mid on. Nine from the over, and RCB continue to cruise.

4.5: Sophie Ecclestone to Smriti Mandhana, Short and on off, Smriti Mandhana gets back and pushes it to covers.

4.4: Sophie Ecclestone to Grace Harris, Fires it full and on middle, Grace helps it to mid-wicket for one.

4.3: Sophie Ecclestone to Grace Harris, Loopy and outside off, pushed a bit aerially but safely to mid off.

4.2: Sophie Ecclestone to Grace Harris, Full and around off, driven back to the bowler who stopped it with a dive.

4.1: Sophie Ecclestone to Grace Harris, FOUR! No bowler is being spared here. Tossed up, full and on middle, Harris charges down the track and clobbers it straight back over the bowler's head. Fifty comes up quickly for RCB as the tempo stays high.

Spin from both ends. Sophie Ecclestone comes on from the other end.

3.6: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, JUST SHORT! Full and flighted around off with a bit of turn, Harris goes hard but gets an inside edge that loops towards mid-wicket. It hangs in the air for a moment and drops just in front of Lanning. The ball is deflected towards long on and they cross. 10 from the over.

3.5: Deepti Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Leans forward to a full ball and strokes it through covers. Rotates the strike.

3.4: Deepti Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Short and wide outside off, Mandhana cuts but finds point.

3.3: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, Fires it full and down the leg side, Harris helps it to square leg for one.

3.2: Deepti Sharma to Grace Harris, SIX! Effortless power. Flighted, full and around off, Harris uses her long levers and lofts it casually straight down the ground. Long on is in place, but she can only turn and watch as it sails comfortably over her head.

3.1: Deepti Sharma to Smriti Mandhana, Flighted and outside off, Mandhana presses forward and drives it through covers for a single.

Meg Lanning turns to Deepti Sharma in search of a breakthrough. Smriti Mandhana's struggles against off spin have been well-documented. Deepti has dismissed her 3 times in 4 innings in WPL, according to the on-air graphic.

2.6: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, FOUR! Just stand and admire. Width on offer again outside off, short in length, and Harris latches onto it, hammering the cut shot square of the wicket on the off side for yet another boundary. 20 runs from the over and RCB are cruising!

2.5: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, FOUR! Three in a row for Harris. Gaud looks to change it up with the slower one, but the line drifts down the leg side on a length. Harris is quick to read it, closes the face of the bat and works it neatly wide of short fine. Another boundary, and the pressure continues to build.

2.4: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, FOUR! One more, and Harris keeps the pressure on. Short again and outside off, she camps back and throws her hands at it, thwacking it through the covers. No stopping that, and the boundaries continue to flow.

2.3: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, FOUR! Whacked away! Short and wide outside off, and Harris jumps all over the width, cracking it through cover-point for a boundary. Gaud gives her a bit too much to work with, and it is punished.

2.2: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, Lands it on a length, around off, Grace pushes it from the crease to covers.

2.1: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, FOUR! Harris is clearly in the mood. Fullish on middle and right in the slot, she rolls her wrists beautifully and whips it away towards deep mid wicket. Chloe Tryon throws herself at it near the rope, but the ball wins the race.

UP Warriorz don't have many runs to play with. Does Meg Lanning stick with Kranti Gaud? Yes. She has shown faith in the youngster to come good.

1.6: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, Angles in a length delivery on off, Harris just bunts it gently towards mid on and pinches a quick single, taken right under the fielder's nose.

1.5: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, Movement away from the left-hander, around off, Mandhana stays back, plays late and eases it through cover-point for one.

1.4: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, Fullish and on off, swinging in, Harris pushes it from the inner half to mid on and races across to the other end. 

1.3: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, Back of a length, around off, it's steered through cover-point for a run.

1.2: Shikha Pandey to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Smriti Mandhana gets off the mark in style. There is width on offer outside off on a shorter length, she rocks back, waits on the ball, and with minimal fuss guides it past backward point. All about timing, and it races away.

1.1: Shikha Pandey to Grace Harris, The famous inswinger from Shikha. Full and curling in around middle and leg, Harris fails to flick and it deflects off her pads to square leg. They cross for a leg bye.

Who will bowl from the other end? It will be the experienced right-arm quick, Shikha Pandey. Amy Jones is standing up to the stumps.

0.6: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, Fuller and on middle, Harris flicks it towards short fine where the fielder gets a hand on it and parries it to deep square leg. A single taken and RCB are off to a fine start.

0.5: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, Around off, on a length and angling in, Grace is forward as she pushes it to mid off.

0.4: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, Back of a length, outside off and nipping away, Harris sits back to run it down but finds short third.

0.3: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, FOUR! Despite two fielders in the deep, Harris finds the gap with ease. Gaud errs again with a low full toss on middle, and Harris takes full toll, flicking it sweetly through mid wicket. The fielder dives near the rope but cannot get close enough.

0.2: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, A good comeback by Kranti. Delivers it on a length and outside off, shaping away, Harris pushes inside the line and misses.

0.1: Kranti Gaud to Grace Harris, FOUR! And RCB are up and running. Gaud offers a friendly full toss on middle, and Harris happily accepts the invitation, muscling it away behind square leg to get the innings off the mark with a boundary.

We are back. Interestingly, when these two sides met earlier in the season, UPW scored 143 batting first, the same total they have ended up with tonight. RCB chased it down in a canter in just 12.1 overs. The scars of that defeat will still be fresh in their minds, and they will know they need something special with the ball this time around. The two umpires lead the way, and the players of the UP Warriorz follow. Amy Jones has donned the gloves. Out walk the two RCB openers, Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris. Kranti Gaud will open the attack for the Warriorz. Harris to face the first ball. Away we go!

... THE RUN CHASE ...

As has been the case so far in Vadodara, pace off has been effective, and apart from that one ball that stayed low to dismiss Harleen Deol, the bounce has been true. Batting hasn't been as challenging as it was at the start of the leg, and having already played two games on this surface, the RCB batters will have a better understanding of the conditions. They will be confident of gunning down this total and securing a direct entry into the final. Can UPW deny them that ticket? They will need early wickets to make a match out of this. Back in a bit for the second essay.

A quick chat with the Purple Cap owner - Nadine De Klerk (4-0-22-4) says that it is nice to contribute and to pick up two wickets at the start to slow things down. She adds that it was a great team effort, with everyone chipping in. Notes that after UP being 74 for no loss, they are definitely happy to take 143. She says that the planning has been pretty good, adding that they knew both batters, Meg Lanning and Amy Jones, are susceptible to deliveries coming back in, so they tried to get the scrambled seam to nip in, and probably she got a bit lucky with Meg Lanning's wicket. Mentions that she is sticking to her strengths and that the planning has been very good, with the captain leading well and keeping the shorter side of the boundary in mind. Shares that they tried to keep the stumps in play as much as they could.

The start was slow, with just 12 runs coming from the first three overs, but they picked up momentum in the second half of the Powerplay and carried it into the middle phase. Nadine De Klerk burst the bubble with a double strike, and Grace Harris dented them further with two wickets of her own in her first outing with the ball this season. Smriti Mandhana kept ringing the changes as RCB tightened the screws through the middle overs. With wickets falling around her, Deepti Sharma battled her way to a fifty, but she was tied down by the RCB bowlers and UPW could only muster 143.

An innings that promised a lot but has ended in disappointment for the UP Warriorz. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be absolutely delighted with the way they pulled things back after that 74-run opening stand. After being inserted into bat, it was a third different opening partnership for the Warriorz tonight, with Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma at the top, and it paid rich dividends.

19.6: Nadine De Klerk to Shikha Pandey, SHIKHA IS SAFE! Nadine lands it on a length outside off, and Shikha Pandey shuffles across looking for the paddle scoop but misses completely. She is struck on the pads and there is a confident appeal, but the umpire shakes his head. Richa Ghosh is alert and whips the bails off as well as the ball had rolled near to her left. RCB decide to review for lbw. UltraEdge shows no contact, and Ball Tracking confirms the impact is outside off. They then check the stumping, but the side-on angle shows Pandey safely grounded her bat. Nothing doing for RCB on that occasion. A dot in end. UP Warriorz end on 143/8.

Shout for an LBW! Not given. RCB take the review. Regardless of the outcome, it will be a dot ball. Richa Ghosh also effected the stumping, but first, the LBW will be checked. The impact looked outside the line in real-time. Yep, the impact is well outside off. Over to the stumping check now. Shikha tried to sneak in a single, but the ball went nowhere. Pandey got back in before the bails were dislodged.

The new batter is... Shikha Pandey.

19.5: Nadine De Klerk to Simran Shaikh, OUT! CAUGHT! Wicket number 15 of the season for Nadine, and she moves ahead at the top of the charts. It is a full toss on middle, and Shaikh looks to repeat the previous shot, this time trying to clear long on. She does not get the timing right, the ball hangs in the air, and Reddy settles under it in the deep to take a well-judged catch. Another successful outing for Nadine, she is now the proud owner of the Purple Cap.

19.4: Nadine De Klerk to Simran Shaikh, FOUR! Full and on middle, Simran Shaikh latches onto it and whips it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

19.3: Nadine De Klerk to Asha Sobhana, Appeal for an lbw! It slides down the leg side, Sobhana gets down for the sweep but cannot connect and is struck on the pads. There is an appeal, but the umpire is not interested. RCB take the review. Ball Tracking shows the impact well outside the line of the leg stump, and the on-field call stands.

Asha Sobhana walks out to bat.

19.2: Nadine De Klerk to Sophie Ecclestone, OUT! LBW! Another milestone for Nadine De Klerk, her 14th wicket of the season, the most by an RCB bowler in a single campaign, as mentioned on air. She lands it on a good length around middle, it nips in, and Sophie stays back looking to slog across the line but misses. She is struck on the pads, the appeal is instant, and the finger goes up. Sophie Ecclestone decides not to review.

19.1: Nadine De Klerk to Simran Shaikh, Goes back and forces it down to long on for a run.

Deepti Sharma falls at an inopportune time for the Warriorz. Who can step up now and take them to 150? Sophie Ecclestone is the new batter but it will be Simran Shaikh on strike.

18.6: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, OUT! CAUGHT! Change in fielder and change in fortunes! A big moment for RCB just as Deepti Sharma was finding her range. It drifts down the leg side again and she goes for the sweep, but this time it is in the air and straighter towards short fine. Nadine De Klerk, who had replaced Lauren Bell, reacts sharply to her left and dives in to complete an excellent catch. The third umpire has a quick look and is satisfied that everything is in order. Deepti walks back after a valiant 55, a fine effort in her new role at the top.

18.5: Shreyanka Patil to Simran Shaikh, Flighted delivery around off, Shaikh goes hard at it and mistimes her lofted shot to long off. The fielder runs in but then stops and collects it on one bounce. They cross.

18.4: Shreyanka Patil to Simran Shaikh, Fires one outside off, Shaikh leaves it thinking it to be a wide. But it is not.

18.3: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Walks forward and slices her attempted drive over covers, for a single.

18.2: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Valuable runs for the Warriorz. Drifting down the leg side, right in Deepti Sharma's comfort zone. She stays balanced, picks it up neatly in front of her pads and nudges it past Bell at short fine to find the boundary.

18.1: Shreyanka Patil to Simran Shaikh, On middle, forced down to long on for a run.

Whom does Smriti Mandhana turn to now? It will be spin in the 19th over in the form of Shreyanka Patil. She is yet to pick up a wicket but has been tidy in the last couple of overs, after going for 10 in her opening over.

17.6: Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, Fifty for Deepti Sharma! Fuller delivery from Nadine, outside off, Sharma reaches out and throws her bat at it. It comes from the bottom part and lobs behind the cover fielder. They get two runs.

17.5: Nadine De Klerk to Simran Shaikh, Short and outside off, punched to covers for one.

17.4: Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, That misses everything. Off pace, full and outside off, Deepti gets down looking for the slog but cannot connect. Ghosh cannot gather it cleanly either and the ball trickles away behind. Bell sprints across from short fine, cuts it off, and they cross. It's given as a run. Maybe, an under edge.

17.3: Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, Short and outside off, Sharma punches but finds the fielder inside the ring at covers.

17.2: Nadine De Klerk to Simran Shaikh, A bit short and on middle, Simran tries to hoick it over the leg side but it comes more from the inner part of her blade. The ball travels to deep square leg and they cross.

17.1: Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, Nadine pitches it up and wide outside off, Sharma reaches out and pushes it to deep cover for a run. Moves to 47.

3 overs left in the innings. UP Warriorz will be hoping to push on and get at least 150 from here. Nadine De Klerk (2-0-11-2) returns to the attack.

16.6: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Short and slow, around off, Deepti adjusts this time and pulls it in front of square leg. Gets a single. Lauren Bell finishes with impressive figures again, 4-0-21-1.

16.5: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Bell comes from round the wicket for the left-hander. Serves a length ball outside off, Deepti tries to play the square cut but is beaten due to the slowness of the delivery.

16.4: Lauren Bell to Simran Shaikh, Fuller and outside off, slower again, Shaikh drags it from there, towards wide long on, for a single.

16.3: Lauren Bell to Simran Shaikh, Slower again, on a length around off, Shaikh taps it down to point.

16.2: Lauren Bell to Simran Shaikh, Slow, slower, slowest. On a length and outside off, Shaikh is way too early into the cut shot and misses.

Deepti Sharma continues to lose partners. Simran Shaikh comes out to bat. Can she provide the desired support to Deepti?

16.1: Lauren Bell to Shweta Sehrawat, OUT! CAUGHT! Another smart bowling change from Mandhana, and it pays off straightaway. Bell comes back on and makes the breakthrough. She floats it up full and wide outside off, taking the pace off. Shweta charges down the track looking to go aerial over the off side but ends up slicing it straight towards covers. Smriti Mandhana is perfectly placed and takes a comfortable catch. UP Warriorz lose half their side.

Will Radha Yadav continue, or is it time for Lauren Bell to return? Bell is back. She will bowl out now.

15.6: Grace Harris to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Beats short fine and brings up the second boundary of the over. Harris fires it in full around leg, and Deepti gets down and across to sweep it neatly past the fielder inside the ring. Well placed and it runs away. 11 from the over, and one over too many for Grace, perhaps.

15.5: Grace Harris to Deepti Sharma, Full and dipping in around off, Sharma drives it down the ground but finds mid off.

15.4: Grace Harris to Shweta Sehrawat, Flighted and around middle, Shweta gets across and dinks it to the right of short fine. They cross for a brisk run.

15.3: Grace Harris to Deepti Sharma, Short again, on off, this time Deepti pulls and finds the deep mid-wicket fielder. Only a run.

15.2: Grace Harris to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Deepti Sharma picks up a boundary. Short in length on off, she stays back, brings her hands through the line, and pulls it with authority towards deep mid wicket. The fielder gives chase, but it beats her comfortably to the fence.

15.1: Grace Harris to Shweta Sehrawat, Flighted and on off, slogged over mid-wicket for a single.

Will Smriti get a touch greedy and toss the ball back to Harris once more? The answer is yes. 2-0-11-2 so far for Grace.

14.6: Radha Yadav to Shweta Sehrawat, Keeps it full, on off, Shweta brings her bat out in front and knocks it to long off. Five singles off the over.

14.5: Radha Yadav to Deepti Sharma, From over the wicket for the left-hander, full and on off, Deepti half-heartedly swings across. One hand comes off the bat handle but she manages to get it past the diving Smriti Mandhana at mid-wicket. Another single.

14.4: Radha Yadav to Shweta Sehrawat, Loopy ball, on middle. Shweta takes it on the full and drives it to long off for one more.

14.3: Radha Yadav to Deepti Sharma, Low full toss, sliding onto the pads. Deepti sweeps but it goes straight to deep backward square leg. Just a single.

14.2: Radha Yadav to Shweta Sehrawat, Full and on off, Sehrawat works it down to long off and turns the strike over.

14.1: Radha Yadav to Shweta Sehrawat, Radha spears it in, full and outside off, Shweta looks to drive it through the off side. She mishits it back to Radha.

STRATEGIC BREAK! It is a dramatic fall for UP Warriorz. From looking set for a big total after a commanding opening stand, they have slid to 106 for 4 in no time. Deepti Sharma continues to fight a lone battle but needs support at the other end. For RCB, this is a golden phase. Nadine struck twice, and then Harris followed with two of her own. Smriti Mandhana could not have asked for more. All that remains now is to keep UP Warriorz under 150. Let's see how the end phase pans out.

13.6: Grace Harris to Shweta Sehrawat, Grace gives the ball air, on off, Sehrawat strokes it to long on for a single.

13.5: Grace Harris to Deepti Sharma, Around leg, it's turned in the gap at mid-wicket for one.

13.4: Grace Harris to Shweta Sehrawat, Goes on the back foot and pushes it past her partner, towards long on, for a run.

13.3: Grace Harris to Shweta Sehrawat, Floated up, on off, Shweta firms the drive to covers.

Harris is on fire, not with the bat, but with the ball in hand. Shweta Sehrawat is the new batter with UPW in trouble.

13.2: Grace Harris to Chloe Tryon, OUT! STUMPED! Grace Harris' happiness knows no bounds. Pushed through by Harris, outside off, on a nagging length. Tryon premeditates and comes down the track. She realises that she is not going to get to the pitch of the ball and pushes out in front to cover the line. The ball does not turn at all and keeps going straight. It goes past the outside edge, and Richa Ghosh does the rest. Chloe did try to plonk her back leg inside the crease, but in vain. From 74/0, the UP Warriorz have slipped to 103/4.

13.1: Grace Harris to Deepti Sharma, Flighted delivery from around the stumps, full and on middle. This is swept in front of square for a single.

Will Harris get one more over? Oh, yes.

12.6: Radha Yadav to Chloe Tryon, Slips in a full ball, on off, Tryon uses her feet and ends up getting too close to the ball and does not get the elevation. She drills it back to Radha, who gets low, gathers the ball and fires the throw back towards the keeper. 6 runs off Radha's first over.

12.5: Radha Yadav to Chloe Tryon, FOUR! Off the edge! Radha drags the length back a touch, outside off, Tryon pushes away from her body. Gets an outside edge that goes fine of short third. Lauren Bell gives it a chase but the ball wins the race. 100 up for UP Warriorz! 

12.4: Radha Yadav to Chloe Tryon, A bit quicker through the air but the length stays full, on off. Chloe knocks it along the ground to mid off.

12.3: Radha Yadav to Deepti Sharma, Tossed up, on middle, Deepti leans forward and wrists it wide of mid-wicket. They cross.

12.2: Radha Yadav to Chloe Tryon, Around off, Chloe eases this full ball, wide of cover for a single.

12.1: Radha Yadav to Chloe Tryon, Darted in from around the wicket, on a length, at the sticks, Tryon pushes it back to Radha.

Radha Yadav will try to maintain the same pressure as she comes into the attack.

11.6: Grace Harris to Chloe Tryon, Flighted delivery, full and on off, Tryon strokes it wide of cover and gets off the mark with a single.

What a bowling change it has turned out to be! Harleen returns and has a word with the incoming batter - Chloe Tryon. Perhaps, making her aware of the low bounce. 

11.5: Grace Harris to Harleen Deol, OUT! TIMBER! An inspired bowling change from Smriti Mandhana. Grace Harris is delighted. Harris keeps it around the off pole, on the shorter side. Deol stays on the back foot to deal with it, but the ball does not rise at all. It scoots through to sneak under the vertical bat of Harleen, and it clips the off stump. Deol wears a puzzled look before starting to make the long walk back. Harris has struck in her first over of the season.

11.4: Grace Harris to Harleen Deol, FOUR! This time, Shreyanka Patil cannot cut it off. Harris drops it a bit too short, on middle. Harleen hangs back and gets her hands out in front. She pulls it behind square on the leg side. Patil is quick across the turf in the deep and flings herself towards the ball. She gets a hand on it, but it is not enough as the ball trickles into the fence.

11.3: Grace Harris to Harleen Deol, Flatter and fuller, on off and middle. Harleen walks inside the line and gets down on a knee. She laps it wide of deep fine leg for a couple of runs.

11.2: Grace Harris to Harleen Deol, Shorter and on middle. Harleen steps out but cannot get to the pitch of the ball. She tucks it to mid-wicket.

11.1: Grace Harris to Harleen Deol, Starts with a loopy ball, on off. Deol is slightly taken aback by the fullness of the ball. She digs it out to mid-wicket.

Will Shreyanka Patil bowl out? No. Interesting call from Smriti Mandhana. She has handed the ball to Grace Harris. Perhaps for the first time, Harris is bowling in this edition.

10.6: Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Shouts of 'catch it', but it lands safely! On off and middle, on a back of a length. Deol swings away on the leg side. Gets more height than distance on it but manages to hit away from Georgia Voll at deep square leg. Voll runs across to her left in the deep and tidies up. Single taken.

10.5: Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, On top of off, on a nagging length, Harleen covers the line and blocks it off.

10.4: Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, Pushed across the left-hander, on a back of a length. Deepti dabs it from the crease towards point. Arundhati Reddy is at it again. She dives to keep the batters down to a single.

10.3: Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Good effort in the deep! Nadine is lucky to get away with a poor ball. Sliding down leg, on a back of a length. Harleen swings away, but she fails to get it fine enough of Arundhati Reddy at deep fine leg. She sprints and puts in a dive to make the stop. Just a single.

10.2: Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Drags the length back, on off, Harleen waits back and chops it down to backward point.

10.1: Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, FOUR! Fine shot! Pitched up by Nadine, on off, Deol leans on and firms the drive all along the ground. She plays it to the left of the cover fielder for a four.

A good phase of the game for RCB. 2 wickets and 14 runs off the last 3 overs.

9.6: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Tossed up, around middle, it's swept across the line but straight to short fine. Only 4 from the over again. At the halfway mark, UPW are 82/2.

9.5: Shreyanka Patil to Harleen Deol, Run out appeal! Full and floated around middle, Harleen drives it straight back and the bowler throws herself at it, deflecting the ball towards mid on as they set off. Smriti sprints in from short mid-wicket, swoops, turns, and fires a throw at the keeper's end. Richa Ghosh whips the bails off in a flash, and the appeal goes up. The third umpire checks the replays and finds Deepti comfortably safe.

Run out check! No real excitement from any of the RCB players. Deepti Sharma had to hurry towards the end. She is safe.

9.4: Shreyanka Patil to Harleen Deol, Flatter and on middle, punched from the crease to short mid-wicket.

9.3: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Slower through the air, a bit short and on off, Sharma cuts it down in front of short third and they race across for a quick run. The throw comes to the keeper, who tries to deflect it onto the stumps but misses. Could have been close.

9.2: Shreyanka Patil to Harleen Deol, The length is dragged short, Deol rocks back and forces it to deep cover for a run.

9.1: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Tossed up, around middle and leg, Deepti nudges it to the right of short fine and gets a single.

Shreyanka Patil to continue.

8.6: Nadine De Klerk to Harleen Deol, Fullish and outside off, Deol drives but picks out the cover fielder. Excellent over, two wickets and just 4 runs from it.

Two wickets in the over for RCB. A short stay for Amy Jones in her maiden WPL outing. Rebuild time for UPW. Harleen Deol is in next.

8.5: Nadine De Klerk to Amy Jones, OUT! LBW! Nadine is working her magic. She lands it on a good length in line with the stumps, it nips in just enough and strikes Jones on the back pad, who fails to work it away. The appeal is confident, and the finger goes up. Amy Jones opts for the review. UltraEdge shows no bat, and Ball Tracking has everything lined up. Three reds on the screen, and UP Warriorz lose their second wicket. A brief stay for the new recruit.

8.4: Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, Fullish and outside off, pushed through covers for one.

A slight hold-up as Anish Sahasrabudhe wanted to check for a short run. Deepti was fine there.

8.3: Nadine De Klerk to Deepti Sharma, Pitches it up and outside off, Deepti forces her drive through covers and collects a couple of runs. The umpire checks for the short run, but Deepti has dragged her bat in while turning for the second run. No problems there.

8.2: Nadine De Klerk to Amy Jones, Fuller and outside off, Amy goes for the drive and edges it towards short third. The fielder there makes a partial stop and they get a single.

Instant impact from Nadine De Klerk. Can RCB build on this scalp? Amy Jones walks out at number 3 on WPL debut.

8.1: Nadine De Klerk to Meg Lanning, OUT! CAUGHT! Nadine De Klerk strikes immediately, and the big wicket arrives. She serves it up full outside off, right in Lanning's hitting zone, and Meg goes for the big one. She ends up slicing it high over cover-point, and Radha Yadav judges it calmly in the deep to pouch a straightforward catch. The 74-run partnership is broken, and Lanning departs after a fine knock of 41.

Arundhati Reddy has been replaced by Nadine De Klerk.

7.6: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Two dots to end the over, 6 runs from it. Full and down the leg side, Sharma sweeps but finds short fine. Patil gets away with a bad delivery.

7.5: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Quicker one, short and on middle, Deepti cuts from the back foot but finds backward point.

7.4: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! That is classic Deepti Sharma. Floated delivery, full and around leg, she steps back to create a bit of room and calmly chips the drive straight back over the bowler. Lovely timing, and it races away to the fence.

7.3: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, A tempter, nicely tossed up and full around leg, Sharma tries to sweep but is early into the shot. It goes off her pads to the off side.

7.2: Shreyanka Patil to Meg Lanning, Drags her length short and bowls it on middle, Lanning shifts back and pulls it to deep square leg for one.

7.1: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Tossed up around off, a bit short, Deepti steers it through point for a single.

Shreyanka Patil returns to the attack. She went for 10 runs in her first over. Can she deliver the breakthrough her side is desperate for?

6.6: Arundhati Reddy to Meg Lanning, FOUR! And Meg Lanning is in the mood. Reddy goes a bit fuller and takes the pace off outside off, but Lanning reads it early and drills it firmly down the ground towards long off for another boundary. 18 off the over and UP Warriorz are gathering momentum.

6.5: Arundhati Reddy to Meg Lanning, FOUR! Put away! Fuller in length and around off, Meg attacks it with all her might and hammers it over the infield at covers. The ball drops and races away to the fence.

6.4: Arundhati Reddy to Meg Lanning, Aerial but safe. Full and around off, Lanning goes hard at it and slices it behind backward point. Gets a couple of runs.

6.3: Arundhati Reddy to Meg Lanning, FOUR! Shot of authority. Back of a length around off, Lanning stays deep in the crease and rolls her wrists nicely, pulling it with control through the gap in front of square leg to pick up a boundary.

6.2: Arundhati Reddy to Meg Lanning, Full toss and on off, Meg misses out as she pushes it straight to mid off.

6.1: Arundhati Reddy to Meg Lanning, FOUR LEG BYES! Reddy starts with a length ball sliding down the leg side. Lanning stays back looking to play across the line but misses, and it seems to brush the pads before racing away fine of deep fine. The umpire signals four leg byes, and they all count.

STRATEGIC TIME-OUT! Royal Challengers Bengaluru take the timeout at the first available opportunity. With 38 runs coming in the last three overs, the UP Warriorz have built some momentum in their innings, and Bengaluru want to break that rhythm and wrest back control. They did start well, keeping things tight, but their discipline has wavered since, and Smriti Mandhana will want to gather her troops and reset in the middle. Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma have both got starts, and now it is about solidifying the platform on what is looking like a good batting wicket, with no real demons so far. Arundhati Reddy to bowl after the break.

5.6: Sayali Satghare to Deepti Sharma, Drifting down the leg side, Sharma nudges it off her pads but finds short fine with precision. At the end of the Powerplay, 50 runs are on the board for the Warriorz.

5.5: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, 50 up for UP Warriorz! Short in length and outside off, Lanning cuts it to deep point for a single.

5.4: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, Shout for an lbw! Sayali angles in a length delivery on middle and it shapes in a touch off the pitch. Lanning rocks back to work it into the leg side but plays all around it and is struck on the back pad. A loud appeal follows, and the umpire stays unmoved. Smriti gathers her troops, has a quick chat with the bowler and keeper, and goes upstairs. DRS time. No bat is involved on UltraEdge, and Ball Tracking shows it is clipping the leg stump. It stays with the on-field call.

5.3: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, Short and on off, Lanning pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 49 runs on the board and this is the best opening stand for UP Warriorz, informs the on-air commentator.

5.3: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, Wide! A bouncer over the head of the batter, Meg leaves. Interesting delivery with the keeper standing up to the stumps.

5.2: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, FOUR! Width there and Lanning cashes in. Short in length and outside off, Meg rocks back and whacks it wide of short third for a boundary. 16 runs off the last 3 balls.

5.1: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, SIX! That is right out of the middle. Sayali goes full and outside off, and Meg Lanning wastes no time in pouncing on it, extending her arms and powering it cleanly over long off for a towering maximum.

Will Shreyanka Patil get another over? Nopes. Sayali Satghare returns to bowl the final over of the Powerplay.

4.6: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, SIX! A good end to the over for the Warriorz. Lauren pitches it up, on off, Deepti crouches a bit and swings across the line. She clubs it to the right of the deep square leg fielder for a six. Productive last couple of overs for UPW. 24 runs off the last 12 balls.

4.6: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Wide! Bell switches to around the wicket and serves the short ball, over middle. Too high as Deepti ducks under it. Wide given for height.

4.5: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Fuller, honing in on the off pole. Lanning opens the bat face and steers it between short third and deep backward point for a run.

4.4: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Bell bashes the hard length, on off, Deepti stays on the back foot and guides it down to deep third for one.

4.3: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! Agricultural but effective! On a length, in line with the off stump, Deepti clears the front leg and smears it wide of mid-wicket for a four.

4.2: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, A rare bad ball by Bell, but she gets away with it! Short and wide, near the tramline, Lanning reaches out but picks out the fielder in the deep. She cuts it on the bounce to deep backward point. Just a single.

4.1: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, A play and a miss! In and around the off stump, on a back of a length. Meg hops to punch it away on the off side. The ball skids through to whistle past the outside edge.

A much better over for the Warriorz and they will hope the shackles have finally been broken. 10 runs come off it after a quiet start, and the chase for momentum is on.

3.6: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Back to around the wicket for the left-hander, around off, on a nagging length. Deepti plays it with soft hands beside the strip on the leg side. Lanning is keen for a quick single but Patil gets to the ball and cuts it off. 10 runs off the over!

3.5: Shreyanka Patil to Meg Lanning, Full and outside off again, Meg reaches out and drags the sweep towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

3.4: Shreyanka Patil to Meg Lanning, FOUR! Smart batting! Floated up, a bit too full, outside off, Meg knows that square leg is inside the circle and she targets the gap in front of square. Lanning walks across to connect with the sweep and plays it wide of the deep mid-wicket fielder to her right.

3.3: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Nearly sneaked through! Very full, on middle. Deepti drops on a knee for the sweep. Gets it off the bottom edge and it rolls behind square for a single.

3.2: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, FOUR! That will release a bit of pressure. Patil dishes out a friendly low full toss, outside off. Deepti opens the bat face and slices it all along the ground, between short third and backward point for a boundary.

3.1: Shreyanka Patil to Deepti Sharma, Drifting in, full and attacking the front pad, Deepti angles it to point off the front foot.

Runs are proving hard to come by for UP Warriorz, with just one boundary in the first three overs. The openers need to shift through the gears quickly if they are to make the most of the fielding restrictions. Spin into the attack early as Shreyanka Patil is ready to bowl the fourth over.

2.6: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Make that five dots! Just a single from the over. Superb stuff from Bell. Slightly fuller, on middle and leg. Lanning clips it straight to mid-wicket.

2.5: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Denying the batter any sort of room, on a back of a length, on middle. Meg jabs it to mid-wicket.

2.4: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Slanting in at the pads, on a length, Lanning gets the front pad out of the way and whips it to mid-wicket.

2.3: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Fuller and on off, Meg pushes it with a straight bat to mid off.

2.2: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, On a good length, on off, Meg waits on it and looks to cut it behind square. The ball bounces on the edge of the cut strip and pops up to Georgia Voll, who is standing somewhere in between backward point and gully.

2.1: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Hits the top of off. Deepti initially looked to back away and go hard but then adjusted to the line. She ended up tapping it down in front of the cover fielder for a single.

1.6: Sayali Satghare to Deepti Sharma, At 96.6 kph, seaming away, on middle and leg, on the shorter side. Deepti drops it with soft hands in front of mid-wicket and calls Lanning through for a quick single.

1.5: Sayali Satghare to Deepti Sharma, Tucking the batter up for room, on a short of a good length. Deepti gets on her toes and stabs it down on the deck.

1.4: Sayali Satghare to Deepti Sharma, On middle, on a nagging length. Deepti knocks it from the crease back to the bowler.

1.3: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, Better from Satghare! Tighter line, on top of off, on a short length. Meg swivels for the pull but does not manage to control the shot. It goes aerially but well in front of deep square leg. They cross.

1.2: Sayali Satghare to Meg Lanning, FOUR! You just cannot bowl there to Lanning! Sayali errs in line as she offers width, on a back of a length. Meg needs no second invitation as she slaps it towards the vacant deep point fence for the first four of the night.

1.1: Sayali Satghare to Deepti Sharma, Moving away, on a short of a length. Deepti rides the bounce and punches it past point for a single.

The dot ball queen gets going with a neat, no-nonsense first over. Sayali Satghare is ready to share the attack from the opposite end. Richa Ghosh, the keeper, comes up to the stumps, and there is no slip in place. 

0.6: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Oh, that kept a bit low! Bell pulls the length back, outside off. Meg arches back and goes hard on the cut. The ball does not rise as much as she anticipated and it sneaks under the blade. Richa Ghosh collects it on the bounce.

0.5: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Pushes the length up, does Bell, on off, Lanning drives it without much timing to cover.

0.4: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Pushed across the left-hander, on a short of a length, Deepti steers it down to deep point and gets off the mark with a single.

0.4: Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Wide! There was a noise, and RCB looked interested in going for the review. Smriti Mandhana takes the opinion of the keeper, but in the end, they decide against the review. Shaping back in, around leg, Deepti thinks about glancing it away but eventually opts to withdraw her bat. The replays show that the ball clipped her pads on the way to the keeper. A review would have helped overrule the wide call.

0.3: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, On a back of a length, outside off, Lanning hangs back and cuts it down to deep third. Opens her account with a single.

0.3: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Wide! Too full from Lauren, sliding down leg. Lanning fails to lay any bat on the tickle. The Warriorz are on the board with this extra!

0.2: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, A flash and a miss! Movement and bounce for Bell. Shaping away, short and outside off. Lanning throws her hands at the ball to cash in on the width. The ball keeps rising and goes over her flailing blade.

0.1: Lauren Bell to Meg Lanning, Rapped on the pads! Looked high, and the appeal dies down quickly. Angled into the right-hander, on middle. Meg brings her bat out in front to block it off. The ball beats her on the inside edge and catches her high on the back thigh.

Ready, steady, go! All set then. The pre-match formalities are done, and it is time to set the ball rolling. The two umpires make their way out to the middle, followed by the RCB players. UP Warriorz are shaking things up at the top, with a new opening pair. It will be Meg Lanning alongside Deepti Sharma. It's the ever-reliable Lauren Bell to kick things off with the ball. One slip in place. Here we go...

The new recruit for UP Warriorz - Amy Jones says that she has got over the jet lag after a quick turnaround and is very excited to be here. Adds that she has only heard good things about the WPL and that it is something she wanted to be a part of. Mentions that she has been following the tournament and watching the highlights. Shares that it is really exciting to be joining at this stage, when every game is a must-win. States that everyone is up for the challenge, that they have had a good training session and team talks, and everyone is excited to go out there and execute the plans. Amy hopes that she does a good job for the team.

The captain of UP Warriorz - Meg Lanning starts by saying that it feels like the start of a new tournament for them, with nothing to lose and everything on the line. She adds that the focus is on the things they want to do better, and that the break has given them time to reflect. Informs that Amy Jones comes into the side and Simran Shaikh replaces Kiran Navgire. Meg hopes that the change in dynamics brings energy and sparks the team. Shares that there could be a new opening pair but chooses not to disclose it, keeping the cards close to her heart.

The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Smriti Mandhana feels that it is a good wicket to bat on, adding that they played here against MI, and she wants her team to bowl in good areas. Shares that one important point, Anya Shrubsole (bowling and assistant coach) mentioned, is that the team has to review the games practically and not emotionally. Smriti says that they have done a lot of things right to win the first five games, and what has worked for them again is keeping things simple. States that someone playing good cricket is what happened against the Mumbai Indians, and that happens in cricket. Adds that they want to rectify their mistakes, but not by putting themselves in a hole, and want to keep things the same. She mentions that there is one change in the team, with Pooja Vastrakar coming in place of Gautami Naik. Further informs that Pooja is available to bat, while her bowling will take time, adding that she has had a tough year, but the team was really excited when they got her in the auction.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI) - Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (WK), Pooja Vastrakar (In for Gautami Naik), Nadine De Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil and Lauren Bell.

UP Warriorz (Playing XI) - Meg Lanning (C), Amy Jones (On WPL debut) (In for Phoebe Litchfield), Simran Shaikh (In for Kiran Navgire), Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat (WK), Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud and Asha Sobhana.