Aided by KL Rahul’s harm early within the match, Royal Challengers Bangalore did simply sufficient to eke out an 18-run win over Lucknow Tremendous Giants in a low-scoring Indian Premier League recreation on the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday. LSG skipper Rahul pulled his proper thigh muscle within the second over of RCB innings whereas making an attempt to cease a boundary and got here out to bat solely in the direction of the tip, which acted in favour of the guests. LSG dished out a fantastic bowling show to limit RCB to a below-par 126 after being requested to bowl first.
RCB by no means had momentum of their innings regardless of the opening pair of skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli sharing a 62-run partnership.
The spin duo of Ravi Bishnoi (2/21) and veteran Amit Mishra (2/21) shone shiny with the ball within the center overs to maintain a examine on RCB’s scoring fee.
Later, it turned out to be a nightmarish begin for LSG whereas chasing a modest 127-run goal, as they misplaced their first three wickets for simply 21 runs in 4.1 overs.
In Rahul’s absence, Kyle Mayers and Ayush Badoni opened the innings however didn’t dwell as much as the expectations.
Whereas Mayers departed within the second supply of the innings with out troubling the scorers, stand-in captain Krunal Pandya performed an 11-ball 14-run knock earlier than being caught by Virat Kohli at long-off off Glenn Maxwell.
Badoni adopted go well with within the subsequent over whereas going for giant shot, caught by Kohli off Josh Hazlewood (2/15).
If that was not sufficient, Deepak Hooda was stumped by Dinesh Karthik off Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, as LSG slumped to 27 for 4 in 5.1 overs.
Leg-spinner Karn Sharma (2/20) then accounted for Nicholas Pooran (9) and Marcus Stoinis (13) in a span of 4 overs to make issues worse for LSG.
The asking fee was beneath management, however LSG saved shedding wickets at common intervals.
Krishnappa Gowtham was the following to depart, run out after a 13-ball 23.
Ravi Bishnoi then ran himself out as LSG collapsed to 77 for eight in 14.4 overs.
Naveen-ul-Haq and Amit Mishra tried their greatest with a gutsy 26-run stand for the ninth wicket.
An injured Rahul got here out to bat final with LSG needing 24 off eight balls, however he regarded in discomfort and didn’t open his account.
Earlier, Rahul didn’t cease the boundary, regarded in appreciable ache, and limped off the sphere. In his absence, Pandya led the aspect.
The duo of du Plessis and Kohli gave RCB one other good begin. Each the openers didn’t get going however gave a platform for the remainder of the batters to take RCB to an honest rating.
Kohli did not have a look at his greatest as he managed simply three boundaries throughout his 30-ball 31-run knock earlier than being stumped by Pooran off the bowling of Bishnoi.
New man in Anuj Rawat did not final lengthy as he gave a catch to Mayers within the deep off the bowling of Gowtham.
Dangerman Glenn Maxwell adopted go well with, with out troubling the scorers a lot, LBW to Bishnoi.
After the preliminary partnership between du Plessis and Kohli, the LSG bowlers pulled again the sport brilliantly.
Suyash Prabhudesai did not final lengthy, caught by Gowtham at mid-off off the bowling of veteran Mishra, as RCB slumped to 90 for 4 in 14.3 overs.
The match got here to halt within the sixteenth over as a result of a gradual drizzle.
After a delay of practically 26 minutes as a result of rain, the match restarted with no overs being decreased.
Whereas du Plessis batted deep he by no means bought the specified momentum in his knock and struggled to search out boundaries and sixes. He was ultimately dismissed by Mishra within the seventeenth over, caught by Pandya because the South African tried to interrupt the shackles.
Thereafter, Dinesh Karthik (16 off 11) tried his greatest to up the ante nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient.
In the direction of the tip, Afghan quick bowler Naveen-ul-Haq picked up two wickets in two deliveries within the twentieth overs, to complete with figures of three for 30.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Matters talked about on this article