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Royal Challengers Bengaluru<\/strong> cemented their status as the team to beat in WPL 2026<\/strong>, delivering a clinical eight-wicket demolition<\/strong><\/a> of the UP Warriorz<\/strong> to punch their ticket directly to the grand final. This high-stakes victory in Vadodara saw the defending champions maintain their composure under pressure, effectively neutralizing a dangerous opposition through tactical superiority and individual brilliance. By finishing at the summit of the points table, Smriti Mandhana\u2019<\/strong>s side has bypassed the Eliminator, earning a well-deserved week of rest before the ultimate showdown.<\/p>\n Grace Harris<\/strong> once again proved to be the ultimate game-changer, haunting her former franchise with a savage 75 off just 39 balls to make a mockery of the 144-run target. Opening the batting alongside captain Mandhana, Harris wasted no time in asserting dominance, dismantling the Warriorz\u2019 powerplay strategy with a flurry of boundaries that cleared the ropes with ease. Her innings was a calculated assault, featuring nine fours and four towering sixes as she reached her half-century in just 22 deliveries, effectively killing the contest within the first eight overs.<\/p>\n The Australian all-rounder\u2019s ability to manipulate the field and target specific bowlers left Meg Lanning<\/strong> without answers, as Harris shared a record-breaking 108-run opening stand in under 10 overs. Although she eventually fell in the 13th over, her dismissal was a mere formality, as the required rate had plummeted to less than three runs per over. This performance solidified her position as a top contender for the Orange Cap and showcased her reputation as one of the most destructive finishers in the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n Mandhana, watching the carnage from the best seat in the house, provided the perfect foil with a steady unbeaten 54, ensuring the chase was completed with 41 balls to spare. The sheer velocity of Harris\u2019s knock not only secured the two points but also provided a massive boost to RCB\u2019s net run rate, leaving no doubt about their championship credentials.<\/p>\n Also WATCH: WPL 2026: Grace Harris rips through UP Warriorz middle order with key wickets of Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The foundation of RCB\u2019s triumph was laid by a disciplined bowling performance that restricted a dangerous Warriorz lineup to a sub-par total of 143\/8. After electing to field, the Bengaluru bowlers were forced to stay patient as Meg Lanning<\/strong> (40) and Deepti Sharma<\/strong> <\/a>(55) built a steady 74-run platform for the visitors. The breakthrough finally came via Nadine de Klerk<\/strong>, who produced a sensational triple-wicket burst to finish with career-best figures of 4\/22, effectively derailing the middle order in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n Harris also made significant contributions with the ball, outfoxing Harleen Deol<\/strong> and Chloe Tryon<\/strong> to claim 2\/22 and trigger a collapse that saw the Warriorz lose four wickets for just 11 runs. Shreyanka Patil<\/strong> provided the finishing touches, removing the set Deepti Sharma<\/strong> in the penultimate over to ensure there was no late-innings flourish for the opposition. Lauren Bell<\/strong> remained characteristically miserly at the other end, conceding only 21 runs from her four overs while applying relentless pressure on the new batters.<\/p>\n The collective effort from the bowling unit meant that the Warriorz, despite having wickets in hand early on, never found the acceleration needed on a surface that began to offer grip for the spinners. Georgia Voll<\/strong>, was equally impressive, pouching two crucial catches to keep the pressure high throughout the 20 overs. This all-round dominance with the ball allowed the RCB batters to play with freedom, knowing that the target was well below the par score for the Kotambi Stadium.<\/p>\n FINALE HERE WE COME \ud83d\udc4a<\/p>\n \u2014 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This is what Grace Harris can do. The queen is back \ud83e\udd76\u2764\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/cbItj7l45M<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pari (@BluntIndianGal) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n If at the start of this WPL season, someone would’ve told me that RCB would directly play the FINAL after winning 6 out of their 8 league games without Ellyse Perry I would have never believed them. \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n \u2014 Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n What a season this has been for RCB<\/p>\n They finish top of the table for the first time in the group stage of the #WPL<\/a><\/p>\n One win away from the title now#WPL2026<\/a> #UPWvRCB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Biceps celebration by Grace Harris \ud83e\udd76 pic.twitter.com\/aHc4ODMdEF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Vivek (@Hailkohli18) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n RCB may not have had the best team on paper, but throughout the tournament this team has played the best cricket of all teams even without having Perry and Pooja. Someone or the other has generally stepped up at different times. Very deserved first spot and final.<\/p>\n \u2014 GK (@FCBxRCB) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n RCB makes it to three successive finals then! \u2014 Sohini M. (@Mittermaniac) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \ud83d\udea8 RCB QUALIFIED INTO THE FINAL OF WPL 2026 \ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n \u2013 Total dominance by Smriti Mandhana & her Army. pic.twitter.com\/nubJ9bjLyP<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n FINALS CALLING THE LADIES \ud83e\udd19\ud83c\udffc pic.twitter.com\/XDdstbScaF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 arfan (@Im__Arfan) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n RCB- The first finalist of #WPL2026<\/a> \ud83c\udf1f#RCB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XyK3zrVetO<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Also READ: Top 5 players to successfully defend lowest runs in final over of WPL matches ft. Sophie Devine<\/a> <\/p>\n This article was first published at WomenCricket.com<\/a>, a Cricket Times<\/a> company.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWPL 2026: Grace Harris unleashes a power-hitting masterclass along with Smriti Mandhana for RCB<\/strong><\/h2>\n
RCB\u2019s bowling unit Nadine de Klerk stifles the UP Warriorz<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s how fans reacted:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\u2705WPL 2024
\u2705IPL 2025
\u2705WPL 2026
Time to make it 3 titles in a row! \ud83c\udfcf\ud83e\udd1e<\/p>\n\n
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