Women’s IPL: Mandhana’s 96 keeps RCB unbeaten; Lanning, Litchfield script MI’s downfall

Royal Challengers Bengaluru maintained their unblemished record with a clinical chase, while UP Warriorz completed a league double over the defending champions.

The Navi Mumbai leg of the 2026 WPL concluded with the tournament’s power dynamics shifting decisively. While Smriti Mandhana fell agonisingly short of a historic century, her Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side extended their winning streak to four. Elsewhere, Meg Lanning’s tactical masterclass ensured UP Warriorz (UPW) became only the second team to do the double over a stuttering Mumbai Indians (MI).

Mandhana, Voll make it four in four for RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 169 for 2 (Mandhana 96, Voll 54) beat Delhi Capitals 166 (Shafali 62, Hamilton 36, Bell 3-26, Satghare 3-27) by eight wickets*

Smriti Mandhana looked destined to end the WPL’s century drought, but a diving Lucy Hamilton at backward point ensured the wait continues. Falling for 96 off 61 balls, Mandhana’s masterclass overshadowed a spirited half-century from Shafali Verma, as RCB chased down 167 with ten balls to spare.

The foundations were laid by RCB’s new-ball pair, Lauren Bell and Sayali Satghare. In a sensational nine-ball burst, they reduced Delhi Capitals (DC) to 10 for 4. Bell breached the defences of Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt, while Satghare—replacing an unwell Arundhati Reddy—castled Jemimah Rodrigues and Marizanne Kapp.

Shafali Verma’s counter-attacking 62 and a late 36-run cameo from debutant Hamilton dragged DC to 166, but the total was never enough. Mandhana toyed with the spinners, reaching her fifty in 31 balls, while Georgia Voll, in for D Hemalatha, struck an unbeaten 54 to ensure RCB finished the leg top of the table.

Lanning, Litchfield script MI’s second defeat

UP Warriorz 187 for 8 (Lanning 70, Litchfield 61, Kerr 3-28) beat Mumbai Indians 165 for 6 (Kerr 49, Amanjot 41, Pandey 2-30) by 22 runs*

Meg Lanning’s return to the top of the order proved decisive as UP Warriorz defended 187 to secure their second successive win over Mumbai Indians. Lanning (70) and Phoebe Litchfield (61) combined for a 119-run second-wicket stand that dismantled the MI attack through the middle overs.

Lanning was particularly aggressive against the spin of Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr, while Litchfield recovered from a sluggish start to hammer 20 runs off an Amanjot Kaur over.

Despite a late-innings collapse where Kerr and Nat Sciver-Brunt dragged MI back with a flurry of wickets, the damage had been done.

MI’s chase was hampered by a fourth different opening combination in four games. S Sajana and Matthews struggled to find the boundary in a power play that yielded just 38 runs.

Though Kerr (49*) and Amanjot (41) added a late 83-run stand, the required rate proved insurmountable against the disciplined lines of Shikha Pandey and Sophie Ecclestone. (ESPNcricinfo)