Hey there, cricket fans! If you’re like me, nothing gets the heart racing quite like a high-stakes women’s cricket match. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 has been full of surprises, and the clash between Up Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Match Scorecard on March 8, 2025, was no exception. Played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, this game was a nail-biter that had everyone on the edge of their seats. UP Warriorz, already out of playoff contention, put on a batting masterclass to post the highest total in WPL history, while RCB fought back valiantly but fell short by 12 runs. It’s the kind of match that reminds us why we love this sport – pure excitement, skill, and a bit of drama!
In this article, we’ll dive into the details of the game, from the toss to the final ball. I’ll keep things simple and straightforward, like chatting with a friend over tea. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just dipping your toes into cricket, you’ll find this easy to follow. We’ll cover the teams, the scorecard, key performances, and what it all meant for the tournament. And of course, there’s a full table breaking down every run and wicket. Let’s get started!
The Build-Up: Why This Match Mattered
The WPL 2025 season kicked off on February 14 with Gujarat Giants taking on RCB in Vadodara. By the time UP Warriorz and RCB met for their second league encounter (they’d tied in the first game back in February), the stakes couldn’t have been higher for one team. UP Warriorz, led by captain Deepti Sharma, had a rollercoaster season. They started strong with a win but slipped with losses that knocked them out of the playoffs. Playing at home in Lucknow, they had nothing to lose and everything to play for – pride, and maybe a chance to spoil RCB’s party.
On the other side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions under Smriti Mandhana, were desperate for points. They’d won their first two games but then hit a rough patch, losing four straight at home in Bengaluru. A win here was crucial to keep their playoff dreams alive, especially with a tricky net run rate to boost. The Ekana Stadium, known for its big boundaries, promised a tactical battle. Weather was perfect – clear skies, no rain interruptions – and the crowd was buzzing, especially since it was International Women’s Day, with UP Warriorz donning pink jerseys to celebrate.
The teams had met once before this season on February 24 in Bengaluru, where it ended in a tie (180 each) and UP Warriorz won the Super Over by 4 runs. That game showcased Sophie Ecclestone’s all-round heroics. Heading into this rematch, both sides made tweaks. UP brought in fresh legs like Georgia Voll, who was making waves after her international debut, while RCB relied on their stars like Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh to fire.
The Teams: Stars on the Field
Let’s meet the players who made this magic happen. UP Warriorz’s lineup was a mix of international firepower and Indian talent:
- Openers: Grace Harris (Australia) and Kiran Navgire (India) – explosive starters.
- Middle Order: Georgia Voll (Australia, debutant), Vrinda Dinesh (India), Deepti Sharma (c, India) – the all-round anchor.
- Lower Order: Shweta Sehrawat (India), Uma Chetry (wk, India), Chinelle Henry (West Indies).
- Bowlers: Sophie Ecclestone (England, spinner), Gouher Sultana (India), Kranti Goud (India), with Deepti providing spin support.
RCB, aiming to chase big, went with:
- Openers: Smriti Mandhana (c, India) and Sabbhineni Meghana (India).
- Middle Order: Ellyse Perry (Australia), Raghvi Bist (India), Richa Ghosh (wk, India), Kanika Ahuja (India).
- Lower Order: Georgia Wareham (Australia, spinner).
- Bowlers: Kim Garth (Ireland), Sneh Rana (India), Renuka Singh Thakur (India), Charlotte Dean (England, debutant), Ekta Bisht (India).
Deepti Sharma won the toss and chose to bat first, banking on the home pitch’s batting-friendly nature. Little did they know, it would turn into a run-fest!
UP Warriorz’s Batting: Smashing Records
What a way to start! UP Warriorz openers Grace Harris and Kiran Navgire got off to a solid start. Harris, with her aggressive style, smashed 60 off just 28 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes. She and Navgire (24 off 16, with 3 fours) put on 52 runs in the powerplay, setting the tone. RCB’s new-ball bowlers, Renuka Singh and Kim Garth, leaked runs early – Garth went wicketless for 40 runs in her quota.
Enter Georgia Voll at No. 3, and oh boy, did she deliver! The young Australian, in her WPL debut, played like a veteran. She scored an unbeaten 99 off 56 balls – that’s 10 fours and 5 sixes – falling just one short of a century due to a run-out on the last ball. Voll shared a crucial 72-run partnership with Harris and then accelerated, taking on the spinners like Georgia Wareham (2/43) and Charlotte Dean (1/47).
Vrinda Dinesh chipped in with 15 off 10, and Shweta Sehrawat added 12 off 6. The middle order didn’t collapse; instead, they built momentum. By the 10th over, UPW were 100/1, and they kept the pedal down. The 18th over from Sneh Rana went for 24 runs – Voll’s boundaries were a sight to behold!
In the end, UP Warriorz finished at 225/5 in 20 overs. Extras added 10 runs (mostly wides). This wasn’t just a total; it was the highest in WPL history, beating Delhi Capitals’ 223/2 from 2023. The batters hit 18 fours and 11 sixes combined – pure firepower! RCB looked shell-shocked, but credit to their fielding; they saved some runs with sharp stops from Perry and Mandhana.
RCB’s Chase: A Valiant Effort That Fell Short
Chasing 226 in T20 cricket is tough, especially on a pitch that started assisting spinners later. RCB lost the toss but had the batting depth to compete. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Sabbhineni Meghana started cautiously. Mandhana, the captain, fell early for 8 off 6 (caught by Ecclestone off Henry), putting pressure on Meghana. But Meghana steadied with 22 off 18.
Ellyse Perry, the season’s leading run-scorer, walked in at No. 3 and looked good for 35 off 24 (4 fours, 1 six). However, Chinelle Henry (2/39) struck again, removing Perry. Raghvi Bist added 18 off 14, but the real fireworks came from Richa Ghosh. The wicketkeeper-batter unleashed hell – 69 off 31 balls, with 5 fours and 5 massive sixes! Her innings included a 50-run stand with Kanika Ahuja (22 off 15), keeping RCB in the hunt.
By the 10-over mark, RCB were 98/3, needing 128 off the last 10. Georgia Wareham chipped in with 14 off 8, but then Sophie Ecclestone turned the game. The English spinner, Player of the Match in their previous encounter, took 3/25 in her 4 overs. She dismissed Ghosh (caught at long-on) and Wareham, breaking a dangerous partnership.
The lower order fought back. Sneh Rana, the off-spinner, played a blinder with 26 off just 6 balls – three sixes in one over off Deepti Sharma! That over went for 26 runs, the most expensive in the innings. But it was too little, too late. RCB needed 18 off the last over from Gouher Sultana, but she held her nerve, conceding just 10. RCB finished at 213/10 in 19.3 overs, all out with 12 runs short.
Key moments? Ghosh’s sixes over cow corner, Rana’s late surge, and Ecclestone’s googly to wrap up the innings. The match aggregate of 438 runs is the highest in WPL, with 18 sixes hit – second only to a previous record.
Up Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Match Scorecard: Batsmen and Bowlers Breakdown
Here’s the complete scorecard in a handy table. I’ve kept it simple so you can see who did what at a glance.
UP Warriorz Innings (20 overs maximum)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Harris | c Perry b Dean | 60 | 28 | 7 | 3 |
| Kiran Navgire | c Ghosh b Garth | 24 | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Georgia Voll | run out (Ghosh/Wareham) | 99* | 56 | 10 | 5 |
| Vrinda Dinesh | c Mandhana b Rana | 15 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Deepti Sharma (c) | c Ahuja b Wareham | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Shweta Sehrawat | not out | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 8, nb 0) | 10 | – | – | – |
| Total | 225/5 (20 overs) | – | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 52-1 (Navgire, 5.4 ov), 124-2 (Harris, 12.2 ov), 165-3 (Dinesh, 15.4 ov), 189-4 (Sharma, 17.5 ov), 225-5 (Voll, 19.6 ov)
RCB Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renuka Singh Thakur | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| Kim Garth | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| Charlotte Dean | 4 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| Georgia Wareham | 4 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| Sneh Rana | 2 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| Ellyse Perry | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Innings (Target: 226)
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana (c) | c Ecclestone b Henry | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Sabbhineni Meghana | c Harris b Sultana | 22 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Ellyse Perry | lbw b Henry | 35 | 24 | 4 | 1 |
| Raghvi Bist | c Navgire b Ecclestone | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | c Voll b Ecclestone | 69 | 31 | 5 | 5 |
| Kanika Ahuja | run out (Sehrawat) | 22 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| Georgia Wareham | b Ecclestone | 14 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Sneh Rana | c Dinesh b Deepti Sharma | 26 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Kim Garth | b Goud | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlotte Dean | not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Renuka Singh Thakur | b Sultana | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Extras | (lb 4, w 14, nb 0) | 18 | – | – | – |
| Total | All out (19.3 overs) | 213 | – | – | – |
Fall of Wickets: 15-1 (Mandhana, 2.2 ov), 45-2 (Meghana, 6.1 ov), 72-3 (Perry, 9.3 ov), 90-4 (Bist, 11.2 ov), 140-5 (Ghosh, 15.4 ov), 165-6 (Ahuja, 17.1 ov), 181-7 (Wareham, 17.5 ov), 213-8 (Rana, 18.3 ov), 213-9 (Garth, 18.4 ov), 213-10 (Renuka, 19.3 ov)
UP Warriorz Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinelle Henry | 4 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
| Gouher Sultana | 3.3 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| Kranti Goud | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Sophie Ecclestone | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| Deepti Sharma | 4 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Shweta Sehrawat | 2 | 0 | 52 | 0 |
Key Performances: Heroes of the Day
Georgia Voll was the undisputed star – her 99* is the highest individual score in this match and nearly a ton on debut! She faced 56 balls but made every one count, mixing elegant drives with powerful pulls. Grace Harris set the platform with her quick 60, while Kiran Navgire’s boundaries early on eased the nerves.
For RCB, Richa Ghosh’s 69 was explosive – those 5 sixes showed her power-hitting prowess. She turned the game single-handedly in the middle overs. Sneh Rana’s 26 off 6 was a cameo for the ages, but it couldn’t quite bridge the gap. Ellyse Perry, despite her 35, looked classy but couldn’t convert.
In bowling, Sophie Ecclestone’s 3/25 was game-changing – her variations foxed the batters. Chinelle Henry picked key wickets, and Gouher Sultana’s final-over composure sealed it. On the RCB side, Georgia Wareham’s 2/43 was the best, but the attack struggled against Voll’s onslaught.
Awards? Voll took Player of the Match. Kiran Navgire was the SuperStriker (strike rate 287.50), and Richa Ghosh hit the most sixes (5).
Match Analysis: What Went Right and Wrong
UP Warriorz’s win was built on fearless batting. Batting first on a good pitch, they avoided early wickets and accelerated smartly. Voll’s composure under pressure was key – she targeted loose balls and rotated strike. Their bowling, led by spinners, adapted to the slowing pitch, with Ecclestone’s economy (6.25) standing out. Fielding was sharp too; run-outs and catches turned momentum.
RCB’s chase started poorly with Mandhana’s early exit, putting too much on Ghosh. Their bowlers were expensive in the powerplay, conceding 60+ runs. But credit where due – they showed fight, hitting 18 sixes in the match (second-highest in WPL). The middle-order collapse after Ghosh’s wicket hurt, and they couldn’t sustain the required rate of 11.3 after 15 overs.
Tactically, Deepti’s decision to bat first paid off, while Mandhana’s field placements couldn’t contain Voll. The pitch assisted batsmen throughout, leading to that massive aggregate. Umpiring was spot-on, with no major controversies.
Impact on WPL 2025: Playoff Heartbreak for RCB
This result was huge. UP Warriorz ended their campaign with three wins, jumping to fourth on the points table (ahead of RCB on net run rate). They finished with 6 points from 8 games, bowing out gracefully.
For RCB, it was heartbreak. With only 4 points now, they were eliminated. Gujarat Giants joined Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in the playoffs, setting up an exciting finish. RCB’s defending champ tag ended in disappointment, but their early wins showed promise. UP Warriorz spoiled the party and gave fans a memorable high note.
The match highlighted women’s cricket’s growth – record totals, big sixes, and global stars shining. Voll’s knock might inspire young players everywhere.
Final Thoughts: A Game to Remember
What a thriller! Up Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Match Scorecard wasn’t just a match; it was a celebration of skill and spirit. From Voll’s near-century to Ghosh’s fireworks, every moment was electric. Cricket teaches us resilience, and both teams showed it. As WPL 2025 heads to the playoffs, let’s cheer for more such spectacles.
