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RCB vs MI, WPL 2026: Nadine de Klerk pulls off heist in season-opening thriller with all-round show – Action in Images
Published on Jan 10, 2026 07:16 am IST
Nadine de Klerk was the difference maker as Royal Challengers Bengaluru came away with the match despite needing 18 off the last 4 deliveries, taking the win.
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Published on Jan 10, 2026 07:16 am IST
The Women's Premier League got off to the most incredible start in Navi Mumbai, the first match going down the wire and needing the last ball of the match to decide it. RCB looked down and out of it right throughout the chase, but Nadine de Klerk had other ideas with 4/26 and 63*(44).(PTI)
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Published on Jan 10, 2026 07:16 am IST
Smriti Mandhana leads RCB, who are 2024 champions, while Harmanpreet Kaur leads 2023 and 2025 champion Mumbai Indians in this tournament. It was RCB who won the toss at DY Patil Stadium, and opted to chase.(AFP)
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Published on Jan 10, 2026 07:16 am IST
Nadine de Klerk broke the MI batting with the wickets of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur in the middle overs, removing MI's two most reliable batters. She would come back late in the innings to break the strongest partnership of the game too, finishing with 4/26.(PTI)
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Published on Jan 10, 2026 07:16 am IST
Nicola Carey and Sajeevan Sajana joined forces with MI on 67/4 after 11 overs; they would bat through to the last over of the innings, adding 82 to provide a resepctable score. Sajana hit seven fours and a six in her extremely attacking knock as MI finished on 154.(AFP)
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SHabnim Ismail celebrates after taking the crucial early wicket of Smriti Mandhana, putting the pressure onto the RCB middle order right throughout the chase.(AFP)
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Nicola Carey's exploits carried into the field as well, taking a sensational catch at the boundary to send the extremely dangerous Richa Ghosh packing. At this moment, MI looked to be in total control.(AFP)
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Published on Jan 10, 2026 07:16 am IST
For MI, all five frontline bowlers utilised took a wicket, setting RCB back at regular intervals and breaking partnerships, Amelia Kerr and Nicola Carey took two wickets each, as RCB collapsed from 40/0 to 65/5.(AFP)
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Published on Jan 10, 2026 07:16 am IST