RCB WINS ROYAL RUMBLE
Kohli leads from the front as Bangalore defeats Rajasthan by eight wickets
ABU DHABI:
Captain Virat Kohli roared back to form with an unbeaten 72 and stitched a 99-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal (63) to power Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 here on Saturday.
This was after wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal snared three wickets for 24 runs in an impressive bowling show, which helped RCB restrict RR to 154 for six. Kohli’s 53ball knock included seven fours and two sixes. Following the result, Bangalore made it three wins in four matches while Rajasthan remains at two victories.
Padikkal yet again produced a superb innings, but was dismissed by Jofra Archer in the 16th over, after hitting six fours and one six. The young opener allowed his captain to get in before Kohli hit some of his trademark shots later on. RCB needed 31 runs after Padikkal’s dismissal and AB de Villiers (12 not out) ensured that the side reached the target with five balls to spare.
Having failed to score big in his first three innings (14, 1 and 3), Kohli took time to settle down. Padikkal continued his good form, having hit 56, 1 and 54 in his three earlier innings. He reached his fifty off 34 balls. The southpaw was the dominant batsman in RCB’s opening stand of 25 runs with Aaron Finch, who was out for eight in the third over.
Earlier, Royals lost its top-order batsmen cheaply inside the powerplay overs, but recovered to some extent to post a decent total, thanks to Mahipal Lomror’s 47 runs. RR skipper Steve Smith (5) fell cheaply for the second consecutive time, with Isuru Udana taking his wicket in the third over. He was followed in the hut by Englishman Jos Buttler (22), who yet again failed to come up with a big score.
Sanju Samson (4), who had two sensational innings of 74 and 85 in RR’s first two matches, was dismissed in the fifth over as Chahal took a low catch in his follow through. Royals was 31 for three and reached 70 for three at the halfway mark, with Robin Uthappa (17) and Lomror stitching a 39-run stand for the fourth wicket.
But, Uthappa failed to score big, getting caught at long-off. Chahal ended Lomror’s fighting innings in the 17th over as the batsman sliced up a widish delivery to Padikkal. Rahul Tewatia (24 not out) smashed two sixes in the last over to give Rajasthan some momentum.
BRIEF SCORES:
Rajasthan Royals 154 for 6 in 20 overs (M Lomror 47, Y Chahal 3/24, I Udana 2/41) lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore 158 for 2 in 19.1 overs (D Padikkal 63, V Kohli 72*)