RCB won the match against CSK
Heroes by Harshal Patel and Glen Maxwell Led a brilliant bowling performance to help Royal Challengers Bangalore register a 13-run win over Chennai Super Kings at the MCA Stadium, Pune on Wednesday.
RCB moved up to fourth place with 12 points from 11 matches and pushed the defending champions to the brink of a finish in the tournament.
Mahipal Lomror’s Quartet, Captain Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli And Dinesh Karthik Well done to lift RCB to 173/8.
RCB bowlers restricted the defending champions to 160/8 despite opener Devon Conway’s half-century.
While Maxwell finished with excellent figures of 2 for 22 in his four overs, Harshal was right on the money, taking three for 35.
Shabaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasranga and Josh Hazlewood also took a wicket each.
Defending 174 like CSK’s, RCB’s bowlers scored in the powerplay, but left-arm spinners Shabaz and Maxwell picked up a flurry of wickets between the 7th and 10th overs, which also included opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Conway provided some resistance with a 37-ball 56 but Maxwell sent him back to the hut.
56 runs were needed in the last five overs. Ravindra Jadeja Tried to move on, but the all-rounder, who struggled with form throughout the season, hit Patel’s slow delivery over cover, straight into Kohli’s hands.
RCB slay again on the specialist, this time getting rid of the dreaded Ali, who was slowing down his drain.
When Dhoni walked into CSK, 52 runs were needed from 24 balls which soon became 39 in the last two overs. However, the talismanic leader could not put his side on the line.
Earlier, CSK spinners made full use of Dhoni’s decision to bowl first as a fit again Moeen Ali and Mahesh Dikshana shared five wickets.
Ali shattered RCB’s top order by getting rid of the opening pair of Kohli and du Plessis, while Thikshana took three wickets in the final over.
Dwayne Pretorius was the second wicket-taker for CSK.
Lomror emerged as the top scorer with his 27-ball knock, while Dinesh Karthik struck some blistering ends at the end to help RCB cross the 170-run mark.
Kohli and du Plessis batted with authority as the two stalwarts overcame the inexperienced pace duo of Mukesh Chaudhary and Simarjit Singh in the powerplay.
The opening pair scored 57 runs in the first six overs, which is RCB’s highest powerplay total this season.
With plenty of uncapped talent to score, the captain M S Dhoni Introduced spin, which slowed down the proceedings for RCB.
With the pitch offering turn and bounce, Ali, who returned to the side after an ankle injury, broke the dangerous partnership as du Plessis found Jadeja at deep midwicket in the eighth over.
A formidable mix-up between Kohli and newcomer Glenn Maxwell ended the big-hitting Australian’s short stay in the middle. This was the fourth time that Kohli was run out this season.
After a costly start, the CSK bowlers did a great job.
RCB were trying to recover from the double blow when Ali bowled brilliantly.
He tosses the ball outside, inviting Kohli for a drive. However, as the ball went off the inside edge and hit the stumps, the former India captain’s struggle against Ali’s spin continued.
Lomror and Rajat Patidar then put on a 44-run stand but Dhoni reintroduced the momentum as Pretorius and the South African dismissed Patidar on his very first ball.
Lomror was dismissed for 33 by Jadeja, but the batsman could not take advantage of the relief as he became Teekshana’s first victim in the 19th over.
The Sri Lankan then dismissed compatriots Wanindu Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed.
(Inputs from PTI)