De Klerk’s Last-Ball Heroics Sink Mumbai as RCB Begin WPL 2026 in Style

Nadine de Klerk announced herself as the ultimate match-winner on the opening night of the Women’s Premier League 2026, producing a stunning all-round performance to steer Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a dramatic last-ball victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium.

The South African allrounder first dismantled Mumbai’s middle order with a superb spell of 4 for 26 before returning to script a breathtaking chase, smashing an unbeaten 63 that included 20 runs off the final four balls when RCB needed 18. From a seemingly hopeless position at 65 for 5, RCB pulled off a heist that set the tone for the league’s fourth season.

Mumbai recover after stuttering start

Asked to bat first, Mumbai never truly found rhythm against a disciplined RCB bowling unit. On debut, Lauren Bell made an immediate impact, delivering a maiden spell of sustained pressure that included 11 dot balls in her opening two overs. Early blows followed, with Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr dismissed cheaply, leaving the two-time champions wobbling.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur attempted to rebuild, striking 20 from 17 balls and surpassing Shafali Verma to become the leading domestic run-scorer in WPL history. However, her dismissal at 80 for 4 threatened to derail the innings. It was opener G Kamalini’s composed 32 that kept Mumbai afloat during the early turbulence.

The innings was revived spectacularly by S Sajana and Carey, who stitched together a record-breaking partnership for the fifth wicket. Their counter-attack yielded 82 runs from just 49 deliveries, the highest stand of its kind for the franchise. Sajana’s aggressive 45 off 25 balls turned the momentum, while Carey played the supporting role with smart rotation and timely boundaries.

Mumbai plundered over 69 runs in the final six overs to reach a competitive 154 for 6. De Klerk was outstanding at the death, removing both set batters in her final over to cap a commanding bowling performance.

RCB stumble before de Klerk’s rescue act

RCB’s reply began brightly as Smriti Mandhana and new partner Grace Harris raced to 40 in 23 balls. The PowerPlay yielded a healthy 57 for 2, but the innings soon unravelled. Amanjot Kaur struck with her very first over, trapping D Hemalatha in front, while Amelia Kerr ripped through the middle order, dismissing Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh in quick succession.

The collapse -- five wickets for just 25 runs, exposed RCB’s thin batting depth. With the chase teetering, Arundhati Reddy and de Klerk attempted to stabilise. After a cautious start, de Klerk shifted gears, taking on Saika Ishaque for a boundary-filled over. Mumbai responded by using Kerr cleverly through the middle overs, the leg-spinner finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 13 and leaving RCB needing 38 from the last four overs.

When Reddy fell at the start of the death overs and Shreyanka Patil was dismissed soon after, RCB were 121 for 7 with the equation firmly in Mumbai’s favour.

Final-over drama

What followed was pure theatre. De Klerk survived two dropped catches and a run-out scare in the 19th over before Prema Rawat struck a crucial boundary to bring the requirement down to 18 off the last six balls. Two dot deliveries at the start of the final over swung the match back towards Mumbai, but only momentarily.

Facing Sciver-Brunt, de Klerk produced a finishing masterclass: 6, 4, 6, 4. The sequence sealed an unforgettable win on the final delivery and left the DY Patil crowd in disbelief.

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