Virat Kohli offered the only pocket of resistance for Royal Challengers Bangalore, mowed down by Rising Pune Supergiant on Saturday. On a wicket tricky for batsmen, the opener stuck around till the 18th over for a hard-earned 55 off 48 balls. Chasing 157, the top-scorer among both teams ended on the losing side, as visitor replied with 96-9 in 20 overs, handing the host a 61-run win.
Going into the game without Chris Gayle and Shane Watson, the wheels came off the chase for RCB at the MCA stadium when Kedar Jadhav got run out after a horrific mix-up with the captain. A.B. de Villiers, the next big hope, fell to smart catch by Manoj Tiwary at point. RPS bowling depth and variety flattened the remaining batsmen. The home team notched its fifth win in nine games.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Jaydev Unadkat (4-0-19-1) struck the first blow in the second over for the home side. Lockie Ferguson (4-1-7-2) troubled batsmen with pace. Off-spinner Washington Sundar’s accuracy (2-0-7-1), leg-spinner’s Imran Tahir’s googlies tormented the lower order. RCB’s Pawan Negi, Adam Milne, Samuel Badree perished against the wrong one from the South African (4-0-18-3).
The visitor looked out of depth in the Powerplays, managing only 39 against pace and crumbled thereafter. Kohli displayed caution after losing teammates Travis Head and A B de Villiers cheaply. Ferguson celebrated after dismissing the dangerous South African, caught at point by Tiwary, completing a sharp catch when de Villiers drove on the up.
Smith came up with a reflex catch at short mid-wicket after a flick off the pads by Sachin Baby flew low in front of the RPS skipper. Washington Sundar and teammates waited for the TV umpire to review the catch. RCB was in trouble at 47-4. Ferguson returned to hustle Stuart Binny into an awkward position without body weight behind the shot.
The batting collapse eclipsed a disciplined showing by RCB bowlers, though only three wickets fell in 20 overs. Pawan Negi’s impressive 4-0-18-1 was supported by crafty work from pace bowlers Adam Milne and Sreenath Arvind. Six bowlers were used, crucially the last five overs cost only 46 runs against Manoj Tiwary (44 not out) and M S Dhoni (21 not out).
The home team scored 43 in the Powerplay overs with local talent Rahul Triphati making up for senior Ajinkya Rahane’s struggle with timing at the creaase. RPS motored to 67 at the halfway mark. RCB had the game in control at this stage, six bowlers pressed into service. The home team’s charge began in the 12th over as Steven Smith cut loose.
The skipper’s dismissal after a quck-fire 45 off 32 balls, set off a roar in the stands as Dhoni strode in. Five overs remaining and two stroke players at the crease. But RCB bowlers bowled well, with Milne giving away only nine in the 19th over, Arvind kept it tight in the 20th conceding only 10.
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