IPL 2021: Max gain for RCB!

Bangalore ride on Maxwell’s unbeaten half-century and KS Bharat’s 44 to thump Rajasthan by seven wickets and boost their prospects of a Top-2 finish

Royal Challengers Bangalore dished out a clinical display with both bat and ball to record a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday, boosting their prospects of a top-two finish.

Chasing 150, RCB completed the task with as many as 17 balls to spare. Star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell blazed away to an unbeaten 50 off just 30 balls, while Srikar Bharat played sensibly for his 44 off 35 deliveries.

RCB needed 71 runs in the back 10 after the RR bowlers checked the flow of runs following the dismissals of Virat Kohli (25) and Devdutt Padikkal (22).

Kohli run-out

Virat Kohli and Padikkal gave the team a brisk start as RCB scored nine runs per over in the power play.

The Indian captain got three boundaries in the first over though he was lucky with the first one that flew over the slip cordon off a leading edge.

However, both got out after settling down with Kohli falling to a fine direct hit by Riyan Parag after he had made a diving stop.

Earlier, RCB staged an excellent comeback as Rajasthan Royals blew away a blistering start to finish at 149 for nine. Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed (2-10) and leg-break bowler Yuzvendra Chahal (2-18) triggered the slide after RR were cruising at 100 for one in the 11th over.

Pacer Harshal Patel (3-34) came close to picking a hat-trick in successive matches, in the final over, but Kartik Tyagi denied him that as RR lost eight wickets for 49 runs.

Lewis fires

Evin Lewis top-scored with 58 off 37 balls, but he was guilty of throwing away his wicket at a crucial juncture, and so was skipper Sanju Samson (19), whose adventurism did not help his team.

Asked to take first strike, RR saw off two quiet overs before Lewis and Yashasvi Jaiswal (31) decided to cut loose. 

Brief scores
RR 149-9 in 20 overs (E Lewis 58, Y Jaiswal 31; H Patel 3-34, Y Chahal 2-18, S Ahmed 2-10) lost to RCB 153-3 in 17.1 overs (G Maxwell 50*, KS Bharat 44; M Rahman 2-20) by seven wickets

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