Dubai (UAE): Glenn Maxwell hit a fifty while Srikar Bharat scored 44 as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
RCB restricted Rajasthan Royals to 149/9 and then chased down the target with 17 balls left after Maxwell (50*) and Bharat (44) show. With this win, RCB now has 14 points in 11 games.
Chasing 150, RCB got off to a good start as skipper Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal scored 48 in the first five overs.
Mustafizur Rahman provided Rajasthan Royals with the breakthrough as he cleaned Padikkal in the sixth over. In the very next over, a superb direct hit ran out Kohli as RCB got reduced to 58/2 inside seven overs.
This was the first time Kohli got run out in the IPL since 2015.
Srikar Bharat and Glenn Maxwell calmed RCB's nerves with a solid partnership as the side scored 100 in the 13th over.
RCB now needed 33 from 42 balls, with eight wickets in hand and the side chased down comfortably despite Bharat's dismissal.
Earlier, put in to bat first, Rajasthan Royals got off to a solid start as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Evin Lewis smashed four fours and as many sixes in the first five overs.
However, Rajasthan Royals lost the plot after the tenth over. Skipper Sanju Samson started off well but couldn't continue his fine form while Mahipal Lomror departed after scoring just three runs.
The Royals collapsed from 100/1 to 127/6 in five overs as Liam Livingstone, Rahul Tewatia Lomror all departed for the single-digit scores. In the end, the Samson-led side was only able to score 149 runs in the allotted 20 overs.
Kohli lavishes praise on his side's all-around performance
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli lavished praise on his side's all-around performance against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL here at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
"Couple of important things are clicking: middle-overs bowling is one. If you take wickets you can change the game. And batting also, we've got a few good opening starts," said Kohli during the post-match presentation.
"Devdutt and I have focused on giving the team good starts so that the middle-order with AB, Bharat and Maxwell can make more. Boys have stepped up, so that's been key for us," he added.
Further hailing RCB's ability to stage a comeback, Kohli said, "We have come back strongly in two games back-to-back with the ball. Which is a great sign. We know if you can hold your nerve with the ball you're going in the right direction. In both games, the opponents were 56/0 in the powerplay, but in both games, we took wickets to ensure the opposition does not get away."
"We knew that with the kind of bowling attack we have, things can open up when we take wickets. As batters you can't take too many risks when you're searching for two points too, so we went to look for mistakes from their batters. Lewis hit a few sixes and it was courageous from Garton and the others. We've got the rewards because we've been fearless and confident in the moments that the game can go either way," he added.
RCB didn't have a good start in the UAE leg of IPL but the side returned to winning ways in the last few matches.
"The break was tough as you saw initially. We were blown away in game 1. That defeat gave us confidence though. In the second game, we were not quite there either, left 25-30 out there with the bat. But last two games we are going in the right direction. Slowly but surely we are getting in the groove," said Kohli.
We got a great start but couldn't capitalise, admits RR skipper Samson
Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Sanju Samson admitted that the side was not able to carry forward the momentum after opening batsmen had given the team a good start against RCB on Wednesday. Rajasthan Royals were 100 for 1 at one stage before RCB bowlers stole the show to script a comeback.
"We got a great start, but couldn't capitalise. Middle-order needs some confidence. We went in with intent, the wicket was two-paced and our batters kept mistiming it," said Samson during the post-match presentation.
"To be honest, it's been a hard one week for us, we need to put in a fight as a franchise. Happy with the effort and intent with the bowling. We don't have anything to lose," he added.
"That kind of mindset brings a lot of freedom, have seen some funny things happen. Need to keep on believing and fighting till the last match," Samson stressed.
Scores: Rajasthan Royals 149/9 (Evin Lewis 58, Yashasvi Jaiswal 31; Harshal Patel 3-34) vs RCB 153/3 (Srikar Bharat 44, Glenn Maxwell 50*; Mustafizur Rahman 2-20)
ANI
