RCB to face confident KXIP
Having notched up a moraleboosting win over Delhi Daredevils without some of their star players, Royal Challengers Bangalore face another test of character when they face Kings XI Punjab in their third IPL match here on Monday.
Watson had marshalled his bowling resources well in RCB's 15-run win over Delhi at home, himself taking one wicket and bowling economically by conceding just 21 runs from his quota of four overs.
Watson choked Delhi's Amit Mishra for runs at the closing stages of the match and that contributed to RCB's first win of the tournament. He also contributed a run-a-ball 24 in RCB's total of 157 for 8.
Billy Stanlake and Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed two wickets apiece but it was Pawan Negi, picked by Watson to bowl the final over, who did the trick for RCB by dismissing Rishabh Pant, the only Delhi batsman who could have won the match for his side.
On the batting front, RCB surely missed Kohli and de Villiers though Kedar Jadhav once again showed his utility by smashing a 37-ball 69 to single-handedly take his side to 157 for 8. 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle failed to get going as he scored just 6 on Saturday after his 32 in RCB's first match.
Kings XI Punjab will come into Monday's match with a lot of confidence after a comfortable victory over Rising Pune Supergiant in their opening match.
Australian Glenn Maxwell led from the front with a quickfire 44 off just 20 balls to chase down the target with six balls to spare.
Maxwell was making his captaincy debut in the match against RPS and he would look to continue against RCB on Monday also at the Holkar Stadium which is KXIP's second home venue along with Mohali.
Though they have retained their core group, Kings XI bought eight players in the IPL auction including well known names like Morgan, Darren Sammy, Martin Guptill and Varun Aaron.
The KXIP squad has been training at the Holkar Stadium for about 10 days now and should be well-versed with the conditions.–PTI