UP vs RCB, WPL Highlights: RCB complete dominant eight-wicket win vs UP Warriorz

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.

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.

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.

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.

The new batter is... Shikha Pandey.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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