Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s nightmare run at home finally came to an end with an 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals in their IPL clash in Bengaluru on Thursday.
RCB’s first win at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this season came after a worrying three straight defeats at the venue.
The victory was set up by spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, who applied the screws on the RR chase.
In search of 206, RR was sitting pretty at 110 for two in nine overs. RCB turned to Krunal, who delivered immediately by prising out Riyan Parag (22, 10b). Bowling in tandem with Suyash, the runs dried up and the pressure mounted on RR.
RCB vs RR Highlights
Dhruv Jorel (47, 34b, 3×4, 3×6) kept RR in the hunt, until pacer Josh Hazlewood turned up the heat in the 19th over. The Australian took out Jorel, and followed up by dismissing Jofra Archer for a golden duck.
RR was left with 17 runs to get in the last over, bowled by Yash Dayal. Shubham Dubey holed out in the first ball, leaving RR with no way back.
RCB was put in to bat, after skipper Rajat Patidar lost the toss here for a fourth time. The pitch, which has posed questions to batters this season, turned a tad more friendly.
Virat Kohli (70, 42b) and Devdutt Padikkal (50, 27b) came good again, taking RCB to a challenging total.
The platform was laid in the PowerPlay, when Phil Salt (26, 23b) and Kohli brought up the team fifty in 4.4 overs.
RR fast bowler Jofra Archer stood out as a serious threat, cranking it up with 150 kmph thunderbolts. Kohli flashed hard outside off, and was lucky to see edges fly to the boundary.
Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga got rid of Salt, who was dropped by Parag when the batter was on one. Kohli and Padikkal then took center stage with a 95-run second wicket stand. Kohli continued his consistent run, notching up his fifth fifty of the season. The elegant Padikkal recorded his second half-century on the trot.
RCB suffered a blip when it lost Kohli, Padikkal and Rajat Patidar in quick succession.
Tim David – promoted ahead of Patidar – and Jitesh Sharma gave the innings late momentum on a memorable night for the home team.