Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League homecoming went awry as Gujarat Titans registered a thumping eight-wicket victory with more than two overs to spare at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Wednesday.
A fiery fast-bowling performance from RCB old-timer Mohammed Siraj (three for 19) and an effervescent batting effort from Jos Buttler (73 n.o., 39b, 5×4, 6×6) brought Titans their second victory from three matches, even as it handed RCB its first defeat in three.
Chasing a modest 170, the visitors did not set the PowerPlay ablaze, scoring just 42 runs for the loss of skipper Shubman Gill (14, 14b, 1×4, 1×6). But Buttler’s calculated assault in the middle-overs ensured that the Titans were always ahead of the curve.
RELATED | RCB VS GT HIGHLIGHTS
The 34-year-old attacked Impact Player Rasikh Dar, smoking him for two sixes on the leg-side in the ninth over, and then carted Liam Livingstone for a six and a four in the 15th over to bring up his half-century from 31 balls.
Impact Player Sherfane Rutherford proved the ideal partner (30 n.o., 18b, 1×4, 3×6) and the two smashed Josh Hazlewood for three sixes in the 18th over to bring the contest to a manic end.
Put into bat, RCB was reeling at 42 for four as Titans’ pace trio of Siraj, Arshad Khan and Ishant Sharma bowled short and into the body and reaped the right rewards.
Virat Kohli was out caught at long-leg while Phil Salt was cleaned up by Siraj. Devdutt Padikkal’s stumps were rearranged by Siraj while skipper Rajat Patidar was trapped in front by Ishant.
RELATED | RCB VS GT SCORECARD
But Livingstone (54, 40b, 1×4, 5×6) combined for 52 runs with a hustling Jitesh Sharma (33, 21b, 5×4, 1×6) and for 46 runs with the towering Tim David (32, 18b, 3×4, 2×6).
The 31-year-old was reprieved by Rahul Tewatia at long-on when on nine and he duly capitalised. At one stage he was on 35 from 34 balls but took a special liking to Rashid Khan and caned the leggie for 39 from just 17 balls.
The three maximums in the 18th over gave RCB the finishing kick that helped it amass 64 runs from the last five overs. But in the end, even that proved inadequate.