Cricket is more than just a game in India—it’s a passion that unites millions. On March 8, 2025, the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow witnessed an electrifying clash between Up Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Match Scorecard 18 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with UP Warriorz emerging victorious by 12 runs in a high-scoring thriller. Let’s dive into the details of this unforgettable game, breaking down the scorecard, key moments, and what made it so special—all in a way that’s easy for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re a cricket newbie or a seasoned fan.
The Stage is Set
The Ekana Cricket Stadium was buzzing with excitement. The pitch was batting-friendly, promising a run-fest, and the clear weather with a cool 21.48°C temperature set the perfect stage. RCB won the toss and chose to field, a decision that hinted at their confidence in chasing under the Lucknow lights. The crowd, a mix of young fans waving posters and families cheering for their favorite players, was ready for a spectacle.
UP Warriorz, led by Deepti Sharma, came into the match with a strong batting lineup featuring stars like Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, and Sophie Ecclestone. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captained by Smriti Mandhana, boasted a formidable team with players like Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh, known for their explosive batting. Both teams were hungry for a win in the competitive WPL 2025 season, making this a must-watch encounter.
UP Warriorz’ Batting: A Power-Packed Innings
UP Warriorz took to the crease first, and boy, did they put on a show! Their batting was like a fireworks display, lighting up the scoreboard with 225 runs for the loss of just 5 wickets in their 20 overs. That’s a run rate of 11.25 runs per over—pretty incredible for a T20 match.
Grace Harris and Georgia Voll Set the Tone
The innings kicked off with Grace Harris and Georgia Voll opening the batting. Harris was in a fiery mood, smashing 39 runs off just 22 balls, including 7 fours and a six. Her aggressive style got the crowd roaring, but she was run out in the 7.1st over, thanks to a sharp throw from Smriti Mandhana. The score was 77/1, and UPW were off to a flying start.
Georgia Voll, the star of the innings, stayed at the crease and played a breathtaking knock. She scored an unbeaten 99 runs off 56 balls, falling just one run short of a century—a moment that had everyone on the edge of their seats. With 17 fours and a six, Voll’s innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression. She mixed elegant cover drives with powerful shots, keeping the RCB bowlers under pressure.
Kiran Navgire’s Explosive Cameo
Kiran Navgire joined Voll and unleashed a whirlwind, scoring 46 runs off just 16 balls. Her strike rate of 287.50 was jaw-dropping, with 2 fours and 5 massive sixes. Navgire’s onslaught, especially in the 12th over, pushed UPW to 148/2 before she was caught by Ellyse Perry off Georgia Wareham’s bowling.
Middle Order Contributions
Chinelle Henry added a quick 19 off 15 balls, with 4 fours, before being caught by Mandhana. Sophie Ecclestone chipped in with 13 off 10 balls, including 2 fours, but was bowled by Charlie Dean in the 19.4th over. Deepti Sharma, the captain, faced just one ball and was run out for 1, leaving Voll stranded on 99. The extras (3 leg byes, 5 wides) added 8 runs to the total, helping UPW reach a massive 225/5.
RCB’s Bowling Struggles
RCB’s bowlers had a tough day. Kim Garth and Renuka Singh Thakur were expensive, conceding 42 runs each without taking a wicket. Charlie Dean (1/47) and Georgia Wareham (2/43) were the pick of the bowlers, but they couldn’t stop UPW’s relentless scoring. Ellyse Perry (0/35) and Sneh Rana (0/13) tried to keep things tight, but the batting-friendly pitch and UPW’s aggressive approach made it a long day for RCB in the field.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Chase: A Valiant Effort
Chasing 226 runs is no easy task, but RCB gave it their all, finishing at 213/10 in 19.3 overs, falling short by 12 runs. Their run rate of 10.92 showed they were in the game, but UPW’s bowlers held their nerve in the crucial moments.
Early Setbacks
RCB’s innings started with a stumble. Smriti Mandhana, their captain, fell for 4 runs in the 2.1st over, caught by Georgia Voll off Chinelle Henry. Sabbhineni Meghana played a brisk 27 off 12 balls, with 2 fours and 2 sixes, but was dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone in the 3.3rd over. At 43/2, RCB were in trouble.
Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh Fight Back
Ellyse Perry steadied the ship with a classy 28 off 15 balls, including 6 fours, before Anjali Sarvani bowled her in the 6.5th over. Raghvi Bist scored 14 off 12 balls but was caught by Uma Chetry off Henry. The real fireworks came from Richa Ghosh, who smashed 69 off 33 balls, with 6 fours and 5 sixes. Her aggressive batting, especially in the 16th over, brought RCB back into the contest, taking them to 171/6.
Sneh Rana’s Late Heroics
With wickets falling, Sneh Rana played a sensational cameo, scoring 26 off just 6 balls, including 2 fours and 3 sixes. Her explosive hitting, particularly in the 19th over against Deepti Sharma, where she smashed a six, a four, and another six, gave RCB hope. However, Deepti dismissed her, and Renuka Singh Thakur was run out on the next ball, ending RCB’s innings at 213.
UPW’s Bowling Heroes
Sophie Ecclestone was the star for UPW, taking 3 wickets for 25 runs in her 4 overs. Her dismissals of Meghana, Wareham, and Dean were crucial. Deepti Sharma also picked up 3 wickets, though she was expensive, conceding 50 runs. Chinelle Henry took 2 wickets for 39, and Anjali Sarvani grabbed 1 for 40. Kranti Goud and Grace Harris were less effective, but the team effort ensured UPW defended their total.
Key Moments That Defined the Match
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Georgia Voll’s 99 Not Out: Voll’s near-century was the backbone of UPW’s innings. Her ability to anchor and accelerate was a treat to watch.
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Kiran Navgire’s Six-Hitting Spree: Navgire’s 5 sixes in 16 balls set the tone for UPW’s massive total.
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Richa Ghosh’s Counterattack: Ghosh’s 69 kept RCB in the hunt, making the chase thrilling till the end.
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Sneh Rana’s Late Surge: Rana’s 26 off 6 balls brought RCB close, but it wasn’t enough.
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Sophie Ecclestone’s Bowling Masterclass: Ecclestone’s 3 wickets, including key breakthroughs, sealed the deal for UPW.
The Up Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Match Scorecard: A Detailed Look
Below is the full Up Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Match Scorecard, capturing every run, wicket, and key statistic.
|
Team |
Batsman |
Dismissal |
Runs |
Balls |
4s |
6s |
SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UP Warriorz (225/5, 20 overs) |
|||||||
|
Grace Harris |
run out (Mandhana/Wareham) |
39 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 177.27 | |
|
Georgia Voll |
not out |
99 | 56 | 17 | 1 | 176.78 | |
|
Kiran Navgire |
c Perry b Wareham |
46 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 287.50 | |
|
Chinelle Henry |
c Mandhana b Wareham |
19 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 126.66 | |
|
Sophie Ecclestone |
b Dean |
13 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 130.00 | |
|
Deepti Sharma (c) |
run out (Perry/Ghosh) |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | |
|
Poonam Khemnar |
did not bat |
– | – | – | – | – | |
|
Shweta Sehrawat |
did not bat |
– | – | – | – | – | |
|
Uma Chetry (wk) |
did not bat |
– | – | – | – | – | |
|
Anjali Sarvani |
did not bat |
– | – | – | – | – | |
|
Kranti Goud |
did not bat |
– | – | – | – | – | |
|
Extras |
(lb 3, w 5) |
8 | |||||
|
Total |
225/5 (20 overs, RR: 11.25) |
||||||
|
Bowling (RCB) |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
||
|
Kim Garth |
4 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 10.50 | ||
|
Renuka Singh Thakur |
3 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 14.00 | ||
|
Charlie Dean |
4 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 11.75 | ||
|
Ellyse Perry |
4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 8.75 | ||
|
Georgia Wareham |
4 | 0 | 43 | 2 | 10.75 | ||
|
Sneh Rana |
1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13.00 | ||
|
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (213/10, 19.3 overs) |
|||||||
|
Sabbhineni Meghana |
c Voll b Ecclestone |
27 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 225.00 | |
|
Smriti Mandhana (c) |
c Voll b Henry |
4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 | |
|
Ellyse Perry |
b Sarvani |
28 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 186.66 | |
|
Raghvi Bist |
c Chetry b Henry |
14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 116.66 | |
|
Richa Ghosh (wk) |
c Henry b Sharma |
69 | 33 | 6 | 5 | 209.09 | |
|
Kanika Ahuja |
b Sharma |
8 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 72.72 | |
|
Georgia Wareham |
c sub (Goel) b Ecclestone |
17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 113.33 | |
|
Charlie Dean |
c Navgire b Ecclestone |
9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 180.00 | |
|
Kim Garth |
not out |
3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 | |
|
Sneh Rana |
c Khemnar b Sharma |
26 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 433.33 | |
|
Renuka Singh Thakur |
run out (Sharma/Voll) |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | |
|
Extras |
(w 6, nb 1) |
7 | |||||
|
Total |
213/10 (19.3 overs, RR: 10.92) |
||||||
|
Bowling (UPW) |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wickets |
Economy |
||
|
Chinelle Henry |
4 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 | ||
|
Grace Harris |
1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22.00 | ||
|
Sophie Ecclestone |
4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 6.25 | ||
|
Kranti Goud |
3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 11.66 | ||
|
Anjali Sarvani |
3 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 13.33 | ||
|
Deepti Sharma |
4 | 0 | 50 | 3 | 12.50 | ||
|
Georgia Voll |
0.3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4.00 |
Match Details:
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Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
-
Date: March 8, 2025
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Toss: RCB, elected to field
-
Umpires: Bhavesh Patel, Anish Sahasrabudhe, Ajitesh K Argal
-
Match Referee: Rajni Basnet
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Result: UP Warriorz won by 12 runs
Why This Match Mattered
This match was a classic T20 showdown, showcasing the best of women’s cricket. For UP Warriorz, the win was a testament to their batting depth and bowling discipline. Georgia Voll’s 99 not out earned her the Player of the Match award, and her partnership with Kiran Navgire set a daunting total. Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma’s bowling ensured RCB couldn’t cross the finish line, despite Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana’s heroics.
For RCB, the loss highlighted their batting potential but also exposed their bowling vulnerabilities. Smriti Mandhana’s early dismissal put them on the back foot, and while Ghosh and Rana fought valiantly, the target was just too steep. The match showed how small moments—like a run-out or a crucial wicket—can swing the game in T20 cricket.
The Bigger Picture
The WPL 2025 is a platform for women cricketers to shine, and this match was a perfect example. Young fans watching players like Georgia Voll and Richa Ghosh saw role models who combine skill, power, and grace. The high-scoring game also proved that women’s cricket is just as thrilling as the men’s game, with packed stadiums and roaring crowds.
For those new to cricket, this match was a great introduction. It had everything: big hits, clever bowling, and nail-biting moments. If you’re a parent explaining the game to your kids, you could point to Voll’s steady batting or Ecclestone’s spin magic as examples of what makes cricket so special.
Conclusion
The Up Warriorz vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Cricket Match Scorecard on March 8, 2025, was a celebration of cricket’s excitement and unpredictability. UPW’s 225/5, powered by Georgia Voll’s unbeaten 99, set the stage for a thrilling chase. RCB’s 213/10, despite Richa Ghosh’s 69 and Sneh Rana’s late fireworks, fell just short. The scorecard tells the story of a match where every ball mattered, and UP Warriorz held their nerve to clinch a 12-run victory.
