Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women vs UP Warriorz Women Match Highlights
On February 24, 2025, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru bore witness to a thrilling contest between Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women and UP Warriorz Women in the ninth match of the Women’s Premier League. It was one exhilarating ride with twists and turns, but it ended in a tie; UP Warriorz the victor in the Super Over. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women were nonchalantly forged their way to a total of 180 for 6 in their 20.
Smriti Mandhana, the captain, went slowly with 23 from 34 balls before being ousted by Deepti Sharma. Wyatt-Hodge then dug in, scoring 57 off 41 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, before Tahlia McGrath sent her on her way. Ellyse Perry contributed a brilliant unbeaten 90 runs off only 56 balls, aided by her nine fours and three sixes, while Richa Ghosh made a rapid 8. The fireworks from deep into the innings were Georgia Wareham and Kim Garth, but they were let down by run-outs.
Deepti Sharma and Chinelle Henry were the best of the bowlers for UP Warriorz, choking off the runs in the turning points of the match. Stubbing over Kiran Navgire had set UP Warriorz Women smiling with her blistering knock of 24 runs from 12 balls with two fours and two sixes before Renuka Singh struck her down. She however scored 14 out of the innings while Deepti Sharma with 25 runs off just 13 balls kept the chase alive early on. Shweta Sehrawat with 31 off 25 helped with some steady influx of runs, while 33 runs from 19 balls made by their big-hitting Sophie Ecclestone, with a boundary and a six, brought them so very close.
However, it became a case of regular falling wickets because Sneh Rana accounted for 3 wickets, including that of Deepti and Tahlia McGrath, who was stumped without troubling the scoreboard.
Kim Garth and Ellyse Perry also did commendably with the ball, but a concerted effort in the final over wobbled the team with a run-out of Ecclestone on the last ball. The Super Over decided the fate of the match. UP Warriorz Women batted first and set a challenging target, which Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women couldn’t overhaul, handing the victory to the Warriorz. The game showcased exceptional performances on both sides—Perry’s unbeaten 90 and Wyatt-Hodge’s aggressive 57 for Bengaluru, countered by Ecclestone’s late heroics and Deepti’s all-round contribution for UP Warriorz.
The powerplay proved crucial, with Bengaluru scoring 42 in their first six overs and Warriorz responding with 57, setting the tone for a high-scoring affair. The match highlighted the depth of talent in the Women’s Premier League, with players stepping up under pressure and delivering a spectacle for the Bengaluru crowd.
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, the loss despite a strong batting effort would sting, especially with Perry in sublime form. UP Warriorz Women, meanwhile, showed resilience, bouncing back from early setbacks in their chase to force the tie and dominate the Super Over. The result underscored the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where momentum swings and individual brilliance can turn the tide at any moment. As the tournament progresses, both teams will look to build on their standout performances—Bengaluru refining their death bowling and Warriorz sharpening their middle-order consistency—to make deeper runs in the competition.
An all-around performance from Ecclestone defined the night. Her 33 runs off 19 balls, with 17 runs in the last over of the regular innings against Renuka Singh (6, 6, 4, 1), leveled the match. Her calmness in the Super Over ended with conceding just four singles, handing UPW their second win in as many games; it stunned the 28,000 RCB faithful who saw the Perry undefeated on 90.
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