RR RCB: Bangalore plays boldly to get another Victory.

RR RCB, IPL 2021: Royal Challenger Bangalore restricts Rajasthan for just 149 after a tremendous start from Lewis and Jaiswal. RCB chased down the target well inside the 20 overs. Thanks to the half-century from Glenn Maxwell and an exceptional knock from Srikar Bharat.

Chasing trend continues in RR RCB game.

A fiery start for Royals went in vain as middle-order collapses. The West Indian powerhouse Evin Lewis started the innings with a class act. Making use of the ball and not-so-good bowling from RCB.

The newcomer George Garton got the beating in his second over from Lewis but got back stronger in his third over to get his revenge. A tight bouncer top the top edge to Srikar Bharat marking the end of Lewis’s innings.

Yashasvi Jaiswal also started well but as usual, falls before reaching his fifty. The opening partnership announced trouble in the RCB camp but Dan Christian finally made a breakthrough from a slower ball which was not so much slower.

The spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Shahbaz Ahmed together slaughtered Rajasthan Royals middle-order. Picking up two wickets each they were efficient as well. Harshal Patel played his part well at the death strengthening his purple cap position to 26 wickets.

The RR skipper who has been hammering runs in the past two matches fails to march this time around. Although he was looking in touch with two fantastic sixes but found Devdutt Padikkal reaching for the third one.

Mighty Maxwell again reliable.

Continuing his form from the last game, Maxwell reached yet another fifty and finishing the game with authority. Taking 22 runs in the 17th over, Maxwell reached his 50 and turned the game onto its head.

Only Mustafizur was the bowler who got the wickets. No other bowler was successful. Chetan Sakariya and Mahipal Lomror were economical but other than that it was an awful display from the Rajasthan bowling attack.

After a marvelous keeping effort from the uncapped Indian, Srikar Bharat was just shy of a maiden IPL 50. His knock included six and three boundaries with a strike rate of over 125.

With this victory, RCB are clear from the rest of the field with 14 points and a one step closer to earning a playoff spot for themselves. On the other end, RR has yet to find the combination for a winning streak.

Watch the highlights of RR RCB, here.

RR RCB post match interviews.

RR skipper Sanju Samson.

“We got a good start but failed to capitalize. Our middle order needs to work on and is currently short on confidence. It felt like the wicket was two-paced and the batters got out going for some big shots. We needed to put up a fight and I am happy with the effort and intent put in the bowling.”

“We don’t have anything to lose and can express ourselves freely now. Some funny things can happen in the IPL and we need to fight till the last match.”

RCB captain Virat Kohli.

“We have come back strongly in the last two games through our bowlers. When you hold nerves in tight games, you are going in the right direction. It was a good pitch to bat on. But 175 would have been competitive on this particular pitch.”

“We needed a couple of breakthroughs and knew that things will open up. For us, Evin Lewis’s wicket was a game-changing moment and George Gartons showed a lot of courage. We have been bowling well in the middle overs and the start with the bat has been brilliant as well. We are getting into the groove at the right stage of the tournament.”

Yuzvendra Chahal wins the man of the match.

“I came late into the attack as there were two left-handers batting so Virat Kohli planned to go with the medium-pacers. I have watched the videos of Mahipal Lomror and it was a plan to bowl wider outside off if he uses his feet.”

“In the first part of the season, I didn’t get wickets regularly but I backed myself after the break. I got my confidence back after the Sri Lankan series and I am now looking to maintain the same momentum.”