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IPL 2023, RCB vs RR: Harshal Patel Holds His Nerves To Script A Narrow Win For RCB

image-lgth8xokFaf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell played match-winning knocks [Source: AP]

Riding on flamboyant fifties from Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis and Harshal Patel's exceptional three-wicket haul, Royal Challengers Bangalore pipped Rajasthan Royals by seven runs in a high-scoring thriller at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. The Faf du Plessis-led outfit gained two crucial points with this victory. 


Du Plessis and Maxwell stand tall as RCB post a massive total

image-lgtfqgnzDu Plessis and Maxwell formed a magical partnership for RCB [Source: AP]

After being put into bat, Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a disastrous start, as ace RR seamer Trent Boult dismissed Virat Kohli and Shahbaz Ahmed cheaply to wreak havoc in the hosts' camp. 

However, the veteran duo of Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell steadied the ship for the hosts, adding a mammoth 127-run stand for the second wicket. More importantly, despite the early setback, these two batters didn't hesitate in taking risks and scoring briskly, thereby setting the tone for a sizeable total. 

Continuing his purple patch, Du Plessis amassed 62 off 39 balls, while Maxwell took all RR bowlers to the cleaners for his explosive 44-ball 77. However, after they got out, the other RCB batters failed to maintain the scoring rate. As a result, they could post 189 despite looking all set to breach the 200-run mark at one stage. 

Although Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma scalped two wickets each, they were expensive, conceding 41 and 49 runs, respectively. Yuzvendra Chahal was the only Royals' bowler to have an impact, as he finished with impressive figures of one for 28 in his four-over spell. 


Harshal Patel's three-wicket haul seizes the day for RCB

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In response, Rajasthan Royals suffered an early setback, with Mohammed Siraj castling Jos Buttler for a two-ball duck. However, youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal rose up to the occasion, stitching a crucial 98-run partnership for the second wicket. 

While Padikkal struck seven fours and a six for his flamboyant 34-ball 52, Jaiswal looked a bit rusty, as he took 37 deliveries to contribute 47 runs. 

However, their dismissals in quick succession brought RCB right back into the game. RR skipper Sanju Samson got a great start, but departed for 22 while taking the aerial route off Harshal Patel. 

After Samson's departure, the Royals' ship sank further, as Suyash Prabhudessai hit the bull's eye to send the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer back into the hut. 

Although Dhruv Jurel showcased his fighting spirit, his gutsy 34*-run cameo could only reduce the deficit as the Royals eventually fell short of the target. 

Harshal Patel emerged as the hero for RCB, bowling a tight final over and scalping three wickets for 32 runs in his four-over spell. 


Brief Scores

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 189/9 (20)
Glenn Maxwell 77 (44), Faf du Plessis 62 (39);
Trent Boult 2/41 (4), Sandeep Sharma 2/49 (4)

Rajasthan Royals: 182/6 (20)
Devdutt Padikkal 52 (34), Yashasvi Jaiswal 47 (37);
Harshal Patel 3/32 (4), David Willey 1/26 (4)

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by seven runs.