IPL 2021: RCB punishes wasteful RR, notches up seventh win

RR vs RCB, IPL 2021: A comprehensive effort by Bangalore's bowlers helped it restrict the Royals to 149 before Glenn Maxwell's half-century paved way for a breezy win in Dubai.

Glenn Maxwell's fourth half-century of the IPL 2021 season secured RCB its seventh win to climb to 14 points.

Royal Challengers Bangalore made short work of Rajasthan Royals, recording a seven-wicket victory at Dubai on Wednesday.

Set a target of 150, RCB romped home with 17 deliveries to spare.

Skipper Virat Kohli (25, 20b, 4x4) and Devdutt Padikkal (22, 17b, 4x4) put the chase on the right track, with a 48-run opening stand. K.S. Bharat (44, 35b, 3x4, 1x6) and Glenn Maxwell (50 n.o., 30b, 6x4, 1x6) then built a 69-run third-wicket stand to shut RR out of the contest. Maxwell notched up his second consecutive fifty.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Earlier, RR frittered away a great start and finished with a sub-par total.

RR openers Evin Lewis and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave the side a rollicking start. Lewis threw the kitchen sink at anything in his arc, making a rapid 37-ball 58 (5x4, 3x6). Jaiswal was less adventurous in his 22-ball 31 (3x4, 2x6), but thoroughly effective.

The pair put on 77 runs in 8.1 overs, before Jaiswal mistimed a slower ball from Dan Christian to Mohammed Siraj at mid-off. Lewis persisted with his attacking approach, until English left-arm pacer George Garton — playing his first IPL match — got rid of the left-hander from Trinidad.

RR captain Sanju Samson, in great form, started well with a couple of sixes. Poor shot selection, however, cut short his stay. Samson (19, 15b, 2x6) made room to loft left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, but despite making good contact, found Padikkal at sweeper cover.

RR could not recover from this blow, as Shahbaz dismissed Rahul Tewatia cheaply in the same over. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got rid of Liam Livingstone to leave RR reeling at 127 for six in 16.2 overs.

POINTS TABLE watch:

Fast bowler Harshal Patel then entered the attack and nearly recorded his second consecutive hat-trick of the tournament. He prised out Riyan Parag and Chris Morris, before a cautious Kartik Tyagi averted the hat-trick bid.

Harshal, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, once again had a good outing, with figures of three for 34. Chahal and Shahbaz finished with two scalps each.

Virat Kohli : "We've got the rewards because we've been fearless and confident in the moments that the game can go either way. Couple of important things are clicking: middle-overs bowling is one. If you take wickets you can change the game. "And batting also, we've got a few good opening starts. Devdutt and I have focused on giving the team good starts so that the middle-order with AB, Bharat and Maxwell can make more. Boys have stepped up, so that's been key for us. We have come back strongly in two games back-to-back with the ball, which is a great sign." Yuzvendra Chahal : "In the first half of IPL, I didn't get wickets in the first three-four matches. After the break, I backed myself. I bowled well in the Sri Lanka series and I got my confidence back. I spoke to players and family on what I am doing wrong. I wanted to maintain that momentum here." Sanju Samson : "We got a great start, couldn't capitalise. Middle order needs some confidence. We went in with intent, the wicket was two-paced and our batters kept mistiming it. To be honest, it's been a hard one week for us, we need to put in a fight as a franchise. "Happy with the effort and intent with the bowling. We don't have anything to lose. That kind of mindset brings a lot of freedom, have seen some funny things happen. Need to keep on believing and fighting till the last match."