RCB Keep Their Campaign Alive As They Bundle RR To Third-Lowest Total In IPL History
RCB beat RR by 112 runs [Image- IPLT20]
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 171/5 in 20 overs [Glenn Maxwell 54 (33), Faf du Plessis 55 (44), Anuj Rawat 29* (11); Adam Zampa 2/25 (4), KM Asif 2/42 (4)] BEAT Rajasthan Royals: 59/10 in 10.3 overs [Shimron Hetmyer 35 (19); Wayne Parnell 3/10 (3), Mohammed Siraj 1/10 (2)]
An amazing fast-bowling performance from Mohammed Siraj and Wayne Parnell and brilliant knocks from Glenn Maxwell and Anuj Rawat has helped the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) hammer the Rajasthan Royals by a whopping 112 runs in Jaipur on Sunday evening.
Chasing 172, the Rajasthan Royals got off to the worst possible start that they could have imagined as they lost the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck in the 1st over of the innings to Mohammed Siraj.
Then, entered left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell into the chat, and within a space of 3 deliveries, he proceeded to send back Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson to leave the home side gasping for breath at 7/3.
Joe Root announced himself to the IPL with an audacious scoop off Siraj, but the rot just didn't stop as Michael Bracewell soon got rid of Devdutt Padikkal before the former missed the attempted flick off Parnell to get trapped plumb in front.
5/28 soon became 6/31 as Dhruv Jurel too perished for a 7-ball 1 after a desperate hoike across the line ended up straight in Mahipal Lomror's lap.
Shimron Hetmyer goes big [Image- IPLT20]
Shimron Hetmyer smashed some lusty blows (4 sixes) against the likes of Karn Sharma, but one shot proved too many for the southpaw as he holed out against Maxwell.
Just like the top and middle-order, the tail also didn't put any resistance and the final rites were eventually written by Sharma, who dismissed Chahal and Asif for ducks to bundle out RR for 59 runs.
Power-packed knocks from Glenn Maxwell and Anuj Rawat powered RCB to 171
Glenn Maxwell at his innovative best [Image- IPLT20]
Earlier, RCB skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss, and on a surface that was expected to slow down, he had no hesitation in batting first.
The Royals made a tactical punt as they benched Trent Boult for wrist-spinner Adam Zampa, and it proved to be a brilliant call as he tightened the screws on both Virat Kohli and Du Plessis in the powerplay.
Kohli, in particular, struggled for his timing, and his 19-ball stay was eventually ended by KM Asif via a brilliant knuckle ball.
With the score reading 1/50 after 7 overs, and Du Plessis also struggling for timing against spinners, RCB needed Maxwell to put on a 'Big Show'.
And, that, he did with disdain as the 360 degree batsman hammered 5 fours and 3 sixes in an eye-catching 33-ball 54.
Du Plessis too completed his half-century with a six off Asif off the 41st delivery of his innings, before the latter sent him packing in the same over.
Adam Zampa was at his best against RCB [Image- IPLT20]
Zampa (2/25 in 4 overs) then returned to dismiss Mahipal Lomror and Dinesh Karthik in a space of 3 deliveries, and when Maxwell too was bowled by Sandeep Sharma in the 18th over, it looked as if RCB will fall short of the pat total.
However, Anuj Rawat belted 3 fours and 2 sixes in an unbeaten 11-ball 29 to power his team to an eventual match-winning total of 171/5.
 "Yash Mittal")
