Navi Mumbai, Jan 12 (NationPress) Former captain Deepti Sharma's stunning performance with an unbeaten 45 runs and Deandra Dottin's 40 not out enabled UP Warriorz Women to post a commendable score of 143/5 in 20 overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the fifth match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

UP Warriorz showcased an impressive comeback to reach 143 for 5, bouncing back from a dire 50 for 5, thanks to a remarkable unbeaten 93-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Dottin and Deepti.

After being invited to bat first, the team led by Meg Lanning initially started strong but hit a snag due to the disciplined bowling from RCB. Harleen Deol (11), who opened alongside Lanning (14), found it hard to settle in, while their captain struggled to find her rhythm. Phoebe Litchfield (20) looked promising early on but faltered, falling into the same pattern as the previous match where she failed to convert her start into a bigger score.

UPW's situation deteriorated swiftly. Poor shot selections by Kiran Navgire (5) and Shweta Sehrawat (0) led to a dramatic collapse, as they tumbled from 50/3 to 50/5, putting the team at risk of a dismal total.

However, the tide turned in favor of the Warriorz when Dottin (40 not out) and Deepti (45 not out) absorbed the pressure and mounted an impressive counterattack. They rotated the strike effectively and capitalized on any loose deliveries, forming an unbeaten 93-run partnership for the sixth wicket, allowing UPW to secure a competitive total of 143/5.

This partnership also made its mark in WPL history, becoming the second-highest sixth-wicket stand in the league, trailing only the 109-run unbroken partnership between Poonam Khemnar and Deepti Sharma against Gujarat Giants in 2024, and surpassing the 69-run stand between Grace Harris and Deepti Sharma against RCB at the same venue in 2023.

For RCB, Lauren Bell impressed with the new ball, achieving figures of 1 for 16. Shreyanka Patil provided crucial breakthroughs by dismissing both Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield in the same over, although she was expensive at the end, finishing with 2 for 50.

Nadine de Klerk made history by being the first bowler in WPL to claim wickets with her first two deliveries, but she ended wicketless after that, concluding with 2 for 28. Linsey Smith and Arundhati Reddy delivered economical spells, contributing to an otherwise solid bowling performance.

Brief scores:

UP Warriorz Women 143/5 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 45 not out, Deandra Dottin 40 not out; Nadine de Klerk 2-28; Shreyanka Patil 2-50) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women