De Klerk’s masterclass seals miraculous RCB win over MI Women in WPL opener by 3 wickets
RCBW vs MIW 1st Match Report: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in WPL history at DY Patil, and it all came down to one name: Nadine de Klerk. When RCB looked down and out at 65/5, few would have predicted a win. But de Klerk had other plans.
RCB’s Steady Start Crumbles Under Pressure
The chase had been tense throughout. RCB needed 90 runs with only five wickets in hand, and the equation became even trickier after Arundhati Reddy’s dismissal just after the time-out in the 16th over. At that stage, MI Women seemed firmly in control, and the target looked almost insurmountable.
De Klerk Takes Charge
Yet, de Klerk showed why she’s become a name synonymous with clutch performances. Starting with a calm yet calculated approach, she kept the scoreboard ticking. Then came the fireworks. She moved away from the stumps, picked up a fullish delivery from Nat Sciver-Brunt, and smashed it straight down the ground for a boundary. The crowd erupted as RCB inched closer.
Final Over Heroics
With 18 runs needed off the final over, de Klerk’s composure was remarkable. She followed up her boundary with a towering six over cow corner, then another massive six, and finally a boundary to seal the chase. When she crossed the crease, arms raised, her teammates rushed onto the field to celebrate—a deserved ovation for a performance that will be remembered for years.
Records and Milestones
RCB’s chase of 18 in the final over is now the second-highest in WPL history, only behind the 19-run feat by UP Warriorz against Gujarat Giants in 2023. De Klerk’s innings of 63 off 44 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes, ensured RCB achieved a target that no team had successfully chased after losing five wickets in a WPL game.
Arundhati Reddy also played her part with a handy 20 off 25 balls, helping set the stage for de Klerk’s heroics. Nicola Carey and Amelia Kerr provided early breakthroughs for MI, but it wasn’t enough to stop a determined RCB.
A Historic Win for RCB
In the end, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women won by 3 wickets, in a match that proved once again that no equation is impossible when Nadine de Klerk is at the crease. Her performance now sits alongside some of the greatest all-round displays in WPL history – 50+ runs and 4+ wickets, a benchmark only a handful of players, like Deepti Sharma, have reached before.
For MI Women, it’s a day of heartbreak after holding the upper hand for much of the game. But for RCB, it’s a historic comeback that sets the tone for an exciting WPL season ahead.