We did everything right: Maxi
All-round show from Royal Challengers consolidates their position in the playoff race with convincing win over Mumbai
DUBAI: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Glenn Maxwell, who was adjudged Man of the Match for his all-around performance, stated that RCB did everything right against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
RCB completed a comprehensive 54-run victory over MI in the Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Dubai International Stadium. Harshal Patel (4/17) starred with the ball for RCB as the 30-year-old dismissed Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar on three consecutive deliveries in the 17th over to turn the tide in favour of Virat Kohli-led side.
For RCB, Glenn Maxwell was another hero in the match as after scoring a half-century (56), the Australian followed it by scalping two crucial wickets with the ball in hand. RCB skipper Virat Kohli also scored a half-century.
Glenn Maxwell during the post-match presentation said: “It was a nice day. We pretty much did everything right tonight. Virat and KS got us through the powerplay and set up a platform for us. I have worked on it a lot over the years and it has become a strength for me. I wanted to cash in hitting to the shorter side with the wind going that way as well.”
“To be able to have a full preseason with my stateside Victoria, put in a lot of work on my bowling and starting to see the rewards now. Hopefully, people can stay safe, get vaccinated and we can travel around the world again and be nice and free,” he added.
This is for the first time that RCB has done the double over MI in a season in IPL. With this heavy 54-run loss, Mumbai have suffered a blow to their run rate and now the defending champions are in serious danger of not making the playoffs.
The Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma said, “Thought it was a fantastic bowling effort from us. At one stage they looked like scoring 180-plus. Batters let us down. That’s been something that’s been happening consistently (losing their way with the bat). Have had a good chat with the batters. Those who are in need to carry on.
Sharma wants to back his outof-form teammate Ishan Kishan and doesn’t want to put too much pressure on the talent youngster who has scored just 100-plus runs in nine games this IPL season. Kishan is also a part of the Indian T20 World Cup team and his repeated failures are coming under scanner.
“He is a talented player (Ishan Kishan). He’s had a terrific IPL last year. We want to back his natural game which is why he came up the order above Surya. I don’t want to put too much pressure on the guy.
“He is relatively young, making his way in international cricket,” the MI skipper said after his team slumped to its third straight defeat post resumption.”
Rohit knows that MI have made some great comeback in previous IPL editions but somehow it is not happening currently. His opposite number Kohli termed it as a “10 on 10” performance.
“Maxi’s innings was unbelievable. If you don’t try and stamp your authority, Bumrah will get over you—that’s how good he is! You have to be at your level best. I’d give it a perfect ten tonight,” Kohli said.
“We left out 15 (runs) out there...Those are the things where we feel we can get 20-25 extra runs.”
Dan Cristian bowled one good over at the back end and Kohli was magnanimous in his praise for hat-trick man Harshal Patel.
“I went with my gut feel with DC (Christian)... With his experience and change-ups, he bowled an amazing over... What Harshal did was unbelievable.”
Hat-trick man Harshal added: “I was thinking if the batters can’t pick my slower balls then the bowlers also will find it difficult to spot (referring to Chahar’s wicket that got him the hat-trick).
“I just bet on that. This is my sixth time being on a hat-trick and finally got one, so pretty happy.
“The way Siraj started, he’s someone who sets the tempo for us and the way Maxi and Chahal bowled in the middle overs were absolutely brilliant. They were under pressure at the death and we executed really well.”
Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 165/6 in 20 overs (G Maxwell 56, V Kohli 51; J Bumrah 3/36) beat Mumbai Indians 111 all out (R Sharma 43; H Patel 4/17, Y Chahal 3/11) by 54 runs.