In a breathtaking display of all-round show, South African star Nadine de Klerk propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dramatic three-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 season opener on January 9.
Nadine de Klerk wins it for RCB
Chasing a target of 155 at the DY Patil Stadium, RCB’s pursuit transformed into a last-ball thriller as de Klerk’s unbeaten 63 off 44 balls dragged her team across the finish line in a defiance of the odds.
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The chase initially seemed effortless after Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris ignited the innings with a 40-run burst in just three overs. However, the momentum shifted violently when Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail dismantled the middle order, sparking a chaotic collapse that left RCB reeling at 65/5. The situation grew even more dire when Arundhati Reddy was dismissed following the 16th-over timeout, leaving RCB needing 29 runs from the final 12 balls and 18 from the ultimate over.
Nadine de Klerk's all-round show
Refusing to yield, de Klerk took total command of the strike in the final moments. With ice in her veins, she hammered 20 runs off the last four balls of the match, including two towering sixes and two boundaries, to seal a sensational heist. Her heroics with the bat were the second act of a dominant night; earlier, she had stifled the MI lineup with the ball, claiming a career-best 4/26 to dismantle their late-innings momentum.
Mumbai’s total of 154/6 had been largely built on a gritty 82-run partnership between Nicola Carey and Sajeevan Sajana, who rescued their side after an early stumble to 67/4.
Yet, it was de Klerk who had the final word in both innings, dismissing both set batters in the final over of the first half before returning to deliver one of the most remarkable individual finishes in the tournament's history.
MI will next take on Delhi Capitals on January 10, while RCB will lock horns with UP Warriorz on January 12.