Grace Harris delivered a bowling masterclass with the ball for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, turning the tide of the WPL 2026 clash in Vadodara. During this critical Match 18 at the Kotambi Stadium, the Australian all-rounder showcased her versatility by providing the breakthroughs that derailed the UP Warriorz middle order.
Grace Harris dismantles the UP Warriorz middle order with wickets of Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon
The double-wicket burst from Harris effectively broke the back of Warriorz innings, removing the dangerous duo of Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon in two separate, clinical overs. It began at 11.5 with the dismissal of Harleen, who had struggled to find momentum before being lured into a defensive stroke by Harris’s deceptive flight. The flighted delivery on off-stump stayed low and went straight on, catching Deol off-guard and crashing into the off-stump to end her stay at 14 off 14 balls. Before the Warriorz could regroup,
Harris struck again at 13.2 to remove the powerful Tryon just as the South African began to look threatening. Seeing Tryon charge down the pitch, Harris intelligently dragged her length back and used the drift to beat the bat completely. Tryon was left stranded as she pokes at thin air, allowing Richa Ghosh to whip off the bails for a clinical stumping. Tryon departed for 6 off 7 balls, leaving the UP Warriorz reeling as their primary finishers were sent back to the dugout. These two wickets in quick succession shifted the momentum entirely, as Harris utilized the Vadodara surface to blunt the opposition’s aggression.
Here’s the video:
What a night she is having ❤️
Grace Harris making her presence felt in Vadodara 🔥
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Also READ: RCB-W vs UPW: Here’s why Deepti Sharma is opening the innings in today’s WPL 2026 clash in Vadodara
RCB bowlers fight back in Vadodara against UP Warriorz
The 18th match of WPL 2026 saw Bengaluru’s bowling unit put on a disciplined display to restrict Warriorz to 143/8 after Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field. The Warriorz started strongly with a 74-run opening stand between Meg Lanning (41) and Deepti Sharma, but the game shifted dramatically once Harris was introduced into the attack. Harris struck gold at 11.5, bowling Harleen for 14, before returning at 13.2 to have Tryon stumped for 6 by Richa.
These twin strikes triggered a collapse, as the Warriorz middle order struggled to cope with the mounting pressure and Harris’s clever variations in flight. Deepti remained the lone warrior for the visitors, fighting her way to a gritty 55 off 48 balls before falling to Shreyanka Patil in the 19th over. Supporting Harris, Nadine de Klerk was exceptional at the death, picking up 4 wickets for 22 runs to further stifle the scoring rate. Lauren Bell provided early control, while Shreyanka’s late wicket of the set Deepti ensured no late-innings explosion occurred. Shreyanka, was also instrumental in the field, helping RCB maintain a tight grip throughout the second half of the innings.
The Bengaluru side now requires 144 runs at an asking rate of 7.2 per over to secure a vital win and boost their chances for a direct final entry. With the surface offering some assistance to the spinners, Harris’s figures of 2/22 could prove to be the most decisive factor of the first innings. The crowd at the BCA Stadium witnessed a classic tactical battle where RCB’s ‘practical’ approach, as mentioned by Mandhana at the toss, successfully neutralized a dangerous start. Warriorz now face a mountainous task to defend this sub-par total and keep their slim playoff hopes alive in this must-win encounter.
Also READ: 10 lesser-known facts about Australia’s newly appointed all-format captain Sophie Molineux
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
