Navi Mumbai, Jan 9 (NationPress) In an exhilarating turn of events, Nadine de Klerk delivered a remarkable performance, leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a thrilling three-wicket victory over the reigning champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), during the inaugural match of the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday.

After taking 4 wickets for just 26 runs, contributing to RCB restricting MI to a total of 154/6, the seam-bowling all-rounder scored an impressive unbeaten 63 runs off 44 balls. Her late-game heroics included a staggering 20 runs from the last four deliveries—two fours and two sixes—securing the win for RCB on the very last ball.

Entering the game at a challenging 63/4, Nadine kept her composure and seamlessly transitioned her form from the recent World Cup into a stellar innings that dramatically shifted the momentum. Her fearless hitting, complemented by three fortunate reprieves in the 19th over, set the stage for RCB’s exciting season opener, promising an exhilarating tournament ahead.

RCB’s chase ignited with enthusiasm as Grace Harris hit a boundary off the very first ball bowled by Nat Sciver-Brunt, quickly followed by a boundary from Smriti Mandhana. After both players scored four runs each from Shabnim Ismail, Grace continued to attack, hitting a six and a four off Nicola Carey, while Mandhana struck successive boundaries, propelling RCB to 40/0 in just three overs.

However, Shabnim regained control with her disciplined bowling, claiming Mandhana’s wicket in her second over after a misjudged drive led to her being caught for 18 runs. Grace later fell to a long-on catch off Nat. RCB’s troubles continued as Dayalan Hemalatha attempted a flick off Amanjot Kaur but was trapped lbw, and Radha Yadav succumbed to a brilliant googly from Amelia Kerr that knocked her stumps down.

Just two deliveries later, Amelia became the WPL’s leading wicket-taker by enticing Richa Ghosh into a risky lofted drive that was caught at long-off. Arundhati Reddy, having hit a cut off Amanjot, narrowly avoided an lbw dismissal off Amelia as replays indicated the ball would have gone over the stumps.

Nadine’s impactful innings began with a lofted boundary over long-off off Nat, followed by successive hits for four against Saika Ishaque. She continued her assault with another boundary down the ground off Nicola, before the all-rounder broke the 52-run partnership by dismissing Arundhati, who was caught in deep mid-wicket, and then bowled Shreyanka Patil.

As the 19th over unfolded, Nat’s dropped catch off Shabnim added to the tension, with Nadine smashing a boundary down the ground. Further drama ensued when Amelia dropped Nadine at deep mid-wicket, and Kamalini mishandled a run-out opportunity as her gloves dislodged the stumps.

With 11 runs scored in the 19th over, Nadine kept RCB’s hopes alive, lofting Nat for a six over long-off, followed by a four. She reached her fifty with a powerful slog over the mid-wicket fence for another six, ultimately clinching a nail-biting win for RCB by hitting a missed yorker from Nat for six, leaving the defending champions in disbelief.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 154/6 in 20 overs (Sajeevan Sajana 45, Nicola Carey 40; Nadine de Klerk 4-26, Lauren Bell 1-14) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 157/7 in 20 overs (Nadine de Klerk 63 not out, Grace Harris 25; Amelia Kerr 2-13, Nicola Carey 2-35) by three wickets.