Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore are locking horns in the 43rd match of the Indian Premier League 2021 in Dubai. RCB are in a commanding position to make their way to the playoffs while RR are in desperate need to win their remaining games to find a place in the top four.
Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bowl first on a fresh Dubai pitch that has grass on the top. RCB handed debut cap to George Garton in place of Kyle Jamieson while RR brought Kartik Tyagi in while leaving Jaydev Unadkat out.
Also Read: Shahbaz Ahmed triggers RR collapse with a double-wicket over, watch
Evin Lewis started RR’s innings in fine fashion and smashed RCB bowlers in all corners of the park. Yashasvi Jaiswal gave him good company and matched him shot for shot. Both openers added 59 runs for the opening wicket and set the platform for a huge total.
Yashasvi Jaiswal got out to Daniel Christian before Lewis notched up his fifty. However, a collapse was triggered as soon as Virat Kohli introduced spinners. George Garton removed well-set Lewis while Chahal outsmarted Mahipal Lomror.
Shahbaz Ahmed’s double-wicket over broke the backbone of Rajasthan Royals’ middle-order. RCB bowlers choked RR batsmen as they crawled to 149/9 in 20 overs. Harshal Patel took three wickets in the final over of the innings.
Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli came out with all guns blazing and scored 48 runs for the opening wicket in 5 overs. Mustafizur Rahman cleaned up Padikkal while Kohli got run out while running on a misfield.
Also Read: Yuzvendra Chahal outsmarts Mahipal Lomror and gets him stumped, watch
Srikar Bharat and Glenn Maxwell, then, got together to add 69 runs for the third wicket. Bharat got out for well-made 44 runs in 35 balls. RCB needed 23 runs in the last 24 balls with Maxwell and AB de Villiers in the middle. Maxwell smashed Chris Morris for 22 runs in the next over and sealed the deal for RCB. He scored unbeaten 50 runs in just 30 balls where he hit six fours and one six.
RCB won the match by seven wickets and had 17 balls in hand when AB de Villiers finished the chase with a four off his first ball.
See how Twitter reacted to this game;
Maxwell also became the fifth Australian to complete 7000 T20 runs 👏
David Warner (10019)
Aaron Finch (9845)
Shane Watson (8821)
Brad Hodge (7406)
Glenn Maxwell (7024*)#IPL2021 #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/xm9NWOzjTX— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) September 29, 2021
With top order clicking, stroll in the park for #RCB , Chasing target of 149 can be tricky, RCB batsmen fully in control. #RR were on the backfoot after disappointing batting performance ran out of options swiftly in bowling too
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 29, 2021
Solid win. After the first 10 overs who would have thought RR would not even be there. Virat and @RCBTweets one step closer. Maxwell superb again. KS Bharat very good to see.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 29, 2021
Virat Kohli is run-out for 25.
Brilliant from Parag! Absolutely sensational fielding from @ParagRiyan as Kohli departs.
Live – https://t.co/4IK9cxv4qg #RRvRCB #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/xZAT6G0huR
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 29, 2021
Gurgaon Gladiators are shining bright for @RCBTweets – Yuzi Chahal, Shahbaz and Harshal Patel ! #RCBvsRR
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) September 29, 2021
Parag needs runs.
I don’t know where he’ll get them, but he needs them— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) September 29, 2021
And just as I said this he has given it away again. Anuj Rawat will think what’s wrong with him. And Dube? Is there an injury?
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 29, 2021
