Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) campaign in the Indian Premier League 2019 has been in dire straits. They have lost five out of five matches that they played this year and are on the verge of an early exit from the tournament. In hope to revive their fortunes, they were playing against Delhi Capitals at M Chinnaswamy Stadium wearing the traditional ‘Greens’. DC won the toss and opted to field first as both teams named an unchanged playing XI.
The pitch looked to a belter at first but fooled everyone as it was gripping and was slow since the very beginning. Parthiv Patel and AB de Villiers got out inside the mandatory powerplay. Virat Kohli was playing the anchor’s role and held one end tight. Moeen Ali played a cameo to boost RCB’s total towards the end, which eventually reached to 149/8 in 20 overs. Kohli scored 41 runs off 33 balls, including one four and two sixes while Rabada finished with a four-fer.
Watch – Shaw hits Navdeep Saini for four consecutive boundaries
Chasing 150, Delhi got off to a shaky start as they lost one of their openers in the first over. Tim Southee could have grabbed two in that over had Parthiv Patel not dropped a regulation catch behind the wicket. Shreyas Iyer and Prithvi Shaw stitched momentum shifting partnership for the second wicket. Iyer scored 67 runs off 50 balls including eight fours and two sixes to take his team over the line by four wickets with seven balls to spare.
Hits
Virat Kohli (RCB)
Bengaluru’s skipper came to open the batting along with Parthiv Patel. He played an anchor’s role in this innings and focused on rotating the strike when Patel and AB de Villiers left the team in tatters. Kohli stayed at the crease till the 17th over and scored 41 runs off 33 balls, including one four and two sixes.
Kagiso Rabada (DC)
South Africa pacer Rabada was at his best against Royal Challengers Bangalore. He sent dangerous looking AB de Villiers. Rabada returned in the 18th over to take three wickets to suck the life out of RCB’s innings. Virat Kohli, Akshdeep Nath and Pawan Negi were his wickets in that over as he registered the figures of 4-0-21-4. Rabada snatched the Purple cap from Yuzvendra Chahal’s head.
Watch – Rabada gets three wickets in one over
Shreyas Iyer (DC)
Delhi’s skipper got an early reprieve by Parthiv Patel when he was dropped behind the wickets in the first over of the innings. He enjoyed this given lifeline to score a match-winning half-century. Iyer scored 67 runs off 50 balls including eight fours and two sixes to take his team over the line by four wickets with seven balls to spare.
