Bangalore beat Rajasthan Royals, maintain third spot
Royal Challengers Bangalore secure a much-needed win against Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets.
The 2016 runner-ups recovered really well after an exquisite start by the openers of the 2008 champions. After reducing the Royals to 149 runs, they chased down the target with 17 balls to spare.
Lewis gets going
Evin Lewis and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave Rajasthan an ideal start. The openers created a 77-run partnership to send Kohli’s men on the ropes right from the start. The partnership was broken in the ninth over as Daniel Christian removed Jaiswal for 31 runs. However, Lewis continued to impress. He ensured that the Royals got to triple figures at the end of the 11th over.
The West Indian brought his half-century off just 31 balls to create the base for Rajasthan to attack the final overs. His fine innings came to an end in the 12th over as George Garton sent him back to the pavilion. With two new batsmen at the crease, the 2016 runner-ups had the chance to come back into the match.
Skipper Sanju Samson smashed a couple of sixes to ensure that his team remains on the front foot. However, wickets started to tumble as Shahbaz Ahmed removed the Royals captain and Rahul Tiwatia. Moreover, Mahipal Lomror could only score three runs before being removed by Yuzvendra Chahal.
The leg-spinner also removed Liam Livingstone to pile more misery on Rajasthan. With the time passing by, it looked likely that Samson’s men would be unable to capitalize on a wonderful opening stand. Fresh off his hat trick against Mumbai Indians, Harshal Patel took another three wickets against the Royals to keep their batting credentials down. The 2008 champions finished off their innings with 149/9.
Bharat and Maxwell clinch victory for Bangalore
Virat Kohli started the run chase with magnificent shots to get the Bangalore fans going. The Indian captain continued to show shades of his supreme talent as he had already hit four boundaries in the first nine balls that he faced. On the other hand, Devdutt Padikkal also provided ideal support to his skipper.
The opening pair established a 50-run partnership in virtually no time. Soon after, the left-hander lost his wicket to Mustafizur Rahman in the sixth over. Kohli also left the crease after the Padikkal dismissal as the Royal Challengers were sent on the back foot.
Srikar Bharat and Glen Maxwell tried to push their team forward. With both the openers gone, it was key for the 2016 runner-ups to not lose any more wickets and keep rotating the strike. At the halfway mark, Bangalore were sitting at 79/2.
Kohli’s men knew that the required run rate was just a little over a run-a-ball. Therefore, they had to attack the loose balls and play the remaining overs to get over the line. Glen started doing that as he smashed Tiwatia for a boundary on the last ball of the 11th over. In the first ball of the next over, Bharat joined in the act by hitting Lomror for a four.
With 55 runs needed off 48 balls, it seemed too easy for the Men in Red. In the 13th over, the former Delhi Daredevils man launched Chris Morris into the stands to minimize the deficit even further. With just over a run-a-ball required, Samson’s men were running short of time and runs.
As the partnership between the Bharat and Maxwell reached 50, it was time for both of them to spear their team over the finishing line. However, the 27-year old fell victim to Mustafizur in the 16th over. The right-hander scored 44 runs off 35 balls.
They got over the line in the 18th over as de Villiers hit the winning four on his first ball.
