Nadine de Klerk starred with bat and ball as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians by three wickets in the WPL opener. Her unbeaten 63 and four wickets sealed a dramatic last-over win in Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai: South African star Nadine de Klerk’s stunning all-round show powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a sensational three-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) here on Friday.

The 25-year-old all-rounder snapped four wickets for 26 runs, helping RCB restrict MI to 154 for 6 after opting to field, and then snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, hitting an unbeaten 63 off 44 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) in a dramatic run chase.

Chasing 155 for a win, RCB were 137 for 7, needing 18 runs from the final over. De Klerk hit a six and a four off the third and fourth deliveries, leaving eight runs required from the last two balls. She struck a six off the penultimate delivery and then dispatched the last ball from Nat Sciver-Brunt for a four to complete a thrilling win.

RCB reached 157 for 7 in 20 overs with Prema Rawat also remaining not out on 8.

For MI, Nicola Carey and Amelia Kerr grabbed two wickets apiece, while Nat Sciver-Brunt, Shabnim Ismail and Amanjot Kaur picked up one each.

RCB suffered a batting collapse after a strong start from openers Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris in a match that saw fortunes fluctuate.

RCB were 47 for 2 at the end of the fifth over but collapsed to 65 for 5 in the eighth over, losing three quick wickets in 2.4 overs.

Harris (25 off 12 balls) and Mandhana (18 off 13 balls) hit a four each off Sciver-Brunt in the first over, and then repeated the same against Shabnim Ismail as RCB raced to 20 for no loss at the end of the second over.

The third over was even more damaging for MI as the RCB opening pair scored 20 runs off Nicola Carey. Harris hit a six and a four, while Mandhana struck two boundaries.

Mandhana looked in good touch but was dismissed in the fourth over. Shabnim Ismail denied her runs in the first four balls, and Mandhana went for a shot in the fifth only to hand a catch to mid-on.

Next over, Harris was also out in a soft dismissal off Sciver-Brunt. She checked her shot off a slower delivery and offered a regulation catch at long-on. RCB lost two big wickets in quick succession.

Dayalan Hemalatha (7), Richa Ghosh (6) and Radha Yadav (1) fell cheaply, leaving RCB in trouble.

RCB were 75 for 5 at the halfway mark, needing 80 runs from 60 balls. De Klerk kept the fight going, with Arundhati Reddy (20) the only one to provide support for a longer time.

Earlier, Sajeevan Sajana struck a 25-ball 45 to take MI to 154 for 6. The 31-year-old smashed seven fours and one six, adding 82 runs for the fifth wicket with Nicola Carey (40) to revive the innings.

MI had been reduced to 67 for 4 in the 11th over after being asked to bat first. Gunalan Kamalini made 32 off 28 balls at the top, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 20.

For RCB, de Klerk was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 26, while Lauren Bell and Shreyanka Patil got a wicket each.

The WPL 2026 began with a maiden over from Bell, with MI opener Amelia Kerr failing to score. Kamalini compensated in the second over, hitting two fours off Linsey Smith. Kerr struggled, opening her account only on the 11th ball she faced, before Bell dismissed her in the fifth over.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (4) was dismissed by de Klerk as MI slipped to 35 for 2 in the seventh over. Kamalini was bowled by Patil in the 10th over, reducing MI to 63 for 3. Next over, de Klerk claimed Harmanpreet’s wicket (20 off 17 balls), leaving MI in trouble at 67 for 4.