Hello All,
Welcome to the clash of the table-toppers- MI vs RCB. Both teams would be itching to get to 16 points and make sure they qualify for the play-offs. The last match both the teams got a humbling defeat by RR and CSK respectively- both winning by 8 wickets. The battle to qualify for the play-offs is still on and 7 teams are still in contention to finish in the top 4. The winner of this match will surely have the advantage to finish in the top 2. Rohit Sharma’s injury will certainly be a concern for MI. Whereas RCB would be missing Saini’s services due to a split webbing. Time to get ready for the toss.
It’s toss time here at Abu Dhabi, the MI captain calls it right and they have decided to bowl first. MI go in with an unchanged team. RCB have made three changes- Saini is out and Dube comes in. Josh Phillipe comes in for Aaron Finch and Dale Steyn comes in for Moeen Ali.
IPL 2020: MATCH 48- MI vs RCB
Live from- Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Time- 7:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- Chris Gaffaney & Ulhas Gandhe
3rd umpire- Sundaram Ravi
Match official- Manu Nayyar.
Teams:
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Josh Philippe, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Dale Steyn, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Mumbai Indians (MI): Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard (c), Krunal Pandya, James Pattinson, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
Philippe and Devdutt Padikkal to open the innings for RCB. Boult will open the attack for MI. Starts off with an inswinger. The second ball Philippe takes a single. Two dots and then Dev makes room and hits one over the extra cover fielder for a boundary. A dot to end the over. RCB are 5/0 after 1. Bumrah to partner Boult. Starts off with two amazing balls, right on the money. The third one falls just short off Pattinson at mid-off. Then Philippe plays a beautiful on-drive for a boundary. A single and dot to end the over. RCB are 10/0 after 2.
Krunal Pandya is brought in and Philippe sweeps for a double. Takes a single off the next. Dev then plays a lap-sweep and a cheeky boundary that from Dev. The next ball plays it through the covers and Boult has a misfield and it goes for another boundary. A single and dot to end the over. 12 runs from it and RCB are 22/0 after 3. Pattinson is introduced in the attack. Starts with a short ball and Dev just flicks it over square-leg for a boundary. A dot and single later Philippe pulls one through square leg for another boundary. A single and dot to end the over. 10 runs from it. RCB are 32/0 after 4.
Boult is back in the attack, starts with a dot and then Philippe just smokes it over long-on for a maximum- What a shot! Three dots later Philippe tries to pull one but instead gets a thick inside edge and a boundary past the keeper. RCB are 42/0 after 5. Pattinson to continue and Dev greets him a boundary through fine leg for another boundary. Takes a double and two singles also bringing up the 50-run stand between the duo. Last ball and then Dev makes room and lofts it over extra cover for another boundary. 12 runs to end the over. RCB are 54/0 after end of powerplay.
Time-out is taken between MI vs RCB. RCB have a blitzing start in the powerplay. MI have been too short with the lengths. RCB would like to maintain the momentum and get a big total. MI would like to tighten the grip on the game by chocking the runs scored by RCB. Krunal Pandya resumes, Philippe plays the reverse sweep and gets a double- good fielding by Tiwary in the deep. 4 singles to end the over. RCB are 60/0 after 7.
Rahul Chahar is introduced in the attack. Dev plays the lap sweep and a double. Now it’s Dev who reverse sweeps and gets a boundary past the diving fielder at backward point. Takes a single off the next. Philippe then plays a delightful inside-out shot over the extra cover for another boundary. The next ball Philippe gives charge and tries to go big, gets beaten by the drift and a quick stumping from De Kock to end Philippe’s inning. RCB lose their first. Kohli comes it at 3 and starts with a double. 13 runs from it and RCB are 73/1 after 8.
Krunal to continue and gives just four singles in it. RCB are 77/1 after 9. Chahar to continue, Kohli takes a single. Dev then smokes one through the covers for a boundary, classy shot that. Two singles later Dev again picks the googly and smashes it through extra cover for another boundary. 11 runs from it. RCB are 88/1 after 10. Krunal to bowl his final, starts off with 4 dots. Kohli then takes a single. Dev then gets a freebie and this one again reaches the cover boundary. Another 50 for Dev and just of 30 balls. RCB are 93/1 after 11. Krunal ends with 0/27.
Time for Bumrah vs Kohli takes a double to start the over. The next ball Bumrah bowls it short, Kohli goes for the pull and hits him high on the bat and a top edge that goes miles up in the air, Tiwari settles under it and a good catch to get rid of the King. It’s Bumrah 100th wicket in IPL! AB comes in at 4. Two singles to end the over. RCB are 97/2 after 12. Chahar to continue and gives just 2 singles and a wide off it. RCB reach 100/2 after 13. Pattinson is brought back in. 3 singles to start the over. Then we are greeted with an AB special. A scoop directly over the keeper’s head for a maximum.
Another pull and another boundary for AB. This time through deep backward square leg. AB getting in his groove. A dot to end the over. 13 from it and RCB are 113/2 after 14. Chahar to bowl his final. Starts with a dot. The next ball Dev clears his front leg and this one goes downtown for a maximum. The next ball plays a square cut and gets him another boundary there Dev’s highest score now in IPL. The next ball cuts again, cries of catch it but Krunal can’t reach it and it goes for another boundary. A double and a dot to end the over. 16 runs from it. RCB are 129/2 after 15.
Pollard brings himself in the attack, AB starts with a double. Full a full toss in the hips, AB could have deposited it anywhere but instead hits straight down the throat of Chahar at deep backward square-leg. Pollard wins the battle again. Big blow that for RCB. Time out taken between MI vs RCB. RCB have lost both their premium batsman- Kohli and AB. They have an inform Dev in the middle. Dube would hope to recreate his form from last innings against MI. Last four and a half innings coming up. Dube walks in at 5. Just 3 singles to end the 16. RCB are 134/3.
Bumrah comes in the attack, starts off with two dots right on the money. Bowls a short one and Dube pulls it but only manages to get it high and no distance and it’s straight in the hands of Suryakumar. The short ball trick working again for Bumrah and MI. Dev attempts a flick the next misses it. Then Bumrah again gets the breakthrough- Dev falls. A good flick from Dev but he hits it straight down the throat of Boult stationed at fine leg. Misses out on an opportunity to get to a hundred. MI and Bumrah are on a roll. A dot to end the over. What an over that from Bumrah- A double-wicket maiden!
Morris and Gurkeerat in the crease. Boult to resume. Morris gets to free his arms and gets a boundary to start the over. The next ball is short and wide, Morris plays the upper cut and it’s straight to Pattinson at third man. Ohh disaster this for RCB! 3 wickets from 6 balls for MI. RCB have lost all their power hitters. Great comeback this from MI. Sundar walks in to bat. Three singles and a wide and then Sundar plays the leg glance to get a boundary. 12 runs from it. RCB are146/6 after 18. Bumrah to bowl his final and is right on the money again. Just 4 singles and a wide from it. RCB are 151/6 after 19. Bumrah ends with 3/14.
Boult to bowl the final over. Sundar gets a double and takes a single off the next. Gurkeerat swings and misses. The next ball gets hold of it and it races for a boundary through deep backward square leg. Boult then bowls a slower wide ball and Gurkeerat manages to get it over the mid-off for a boundary almost losing his balance thereafter playing the shot. Some needed runs this from Gurkeerat in the end. Another couple to end the over. 13 runs from it. RCB end with 164/6 from their 20.
Well that certainly was a two part innings there. The first 10 were dominated by RCB and the final 10 MI dictated the terms. Dev and Josh gave a quick fire start to the RCB innings. They were looking great for a big score before Chahar got the better of Josh. Kohli and Dev tried to continue but then Bumrah had other plans. First he gets King Kohli and then comes back and gets a double wicket maiden- Dube and in-form Dev. Pollard with some smart captaincy also brought himself and got rid of the dangerous AB. Gurkeerat and Sundar tried their best and got RCB to a respectable total. MI chase coming right up…
De Kock and Ishan Kishan are out to open the innings for MI. Chris Morris will open the attack for RCB. Morris starts off with a couple of dots. De Kock takes a single. A dot and then Ishan gets a hit-me ball from Morris and he treats himself with a boundary. A dot to end the over. MI are 5/0 after 1. Steyn to partner Morris. Starts with a dot. De Kock then takes a single. Ishan then gets one in his arc and hits it over mid-wicket for a maximum. A single and double to end the over. MI are 15/0 after 2.
Sundar is brought in the attack and just gives 2 from his 5 balls. The last ball Ishan cuts it handsomely for a boundary. 6 runs from it. Steyn to continue, starts off with a couple of singles and a double. Two dots and De Kock joins in the party with a maximum from a pull over long-leg. MI are 31/0 after 4.
Sundar to continue and just gives a single and two couples. 5 runs from it. Siraj is brought in the attack. Ishan starts with a single- almost got him cleaned up. A dot and then gets the wicket of De Kock. Siraj strikes. Another wicket from a short ball. Short and angling away from De Kock, he plays the pull and hits it straight to Gurkeerat at deep mid-wicket. Surya Kumar Yadav comes it at 3. Siraj bowls a short one called a wide. A dot and then Surya plays it in the gap and collect 3 through mid-on. Last ball a gift from Siraj in the pads and Ishan thanks him with a boundary. MI end their powerplay at 45/1.
Sundar to resume and gives just 4 singles from it. MI are 49/1 after 7. Chahal is introduced in the attack. Starts off with a dot. Three singles later- Ishan dances down the track and tries the lofted drive but Chahal bowled it wide outside off. Ishan only manages to get the lower-end of the bat and simple catch to Morris at long-on. Huge wicket that for RCB especially after Ishan last match heroics against them. Tiwari walks in at 4. A single to end the over. MI are 53/2 after 8.
Sundar to bowl his final over. Just 5 singles from it. MI are 58/2 after 9. Sundar finishes with 0/20. Time for a strategic time-out between MI vs RCB. MI started off well but 2 quick wickets from RCB has brought back the game in the balance. MI bat deep and have their power hitters left. RCB would like to get more wickets and keep the required run rate high to win the game. Chahal to resume. Two singles and then Surya sweeps one gets the top edge and goes the distance- Short boundary there saving Surya. The next ball- gets his sweep correct this time and a boundary through square leg. Two dots to end the over. MI are 70/2 at the halfway mark.
Siraj to bowl his second starts off with a couple of dots. Tiwary then gets a double. Then the next tries to clear mid-off and a stunning catch by Dev. A full body dive moving forward like a leap and catches it just off the ground. MI loose their third. Krunal Pandya comes in at 5. Single to end the over. MI are 73/3 after 11. Chahal to continue- starts with a dot. Krunal then spots the googly and lifts it over the covers for a boundary. A double and a single later Chahal bowls the wide tossed up delivery and Surya places that one to perfection over the covers for a maximum.
What a shot that… will give him lots of confidence. 13 runs from it. MI are86/3 after 12. Steyn is back in the attack. Krunal takes a single. Steyn then manages to get the edge but it’s wide and through the vacant slip area and goes for a boundary. Then next ball Steyn bowls it short and wide and Surya gleefully cuts it for another boundary through point. A dot and Surya means business here. Stand and deliver through the covers for another boundary. A dot to end the over. MI getting the momentum required.
Chahal to bowl his final and Krunal takes a double and a single to start with. Surya then sweeps one fine and finds the gap to perfection for another boundary. A single the next ball. Chahal gets his man- Krunal departs. Needless that from Krunal. Tossed up, spinning away from Krunal goes through with the short only managing the toe end of the bat and a simple catch at long-off for Morris. It’s Chahal again with the breakthrough. Hardik comes in. MI after 14 are 107/4. Chahal ends with 2/37.
Morris is brought back in the attack. Surya takes a single. Two slower balls and 2 dots. A wide down the leg and the Morris bowls on to Hardik’s pads and it’s out of the park. An excellent shot that. A double and a dot to end the over. MI are 117/4 after 15. Siraj to resume and Surya greets him with a boundary and he gets to his 50 off just 29 balls. Great skills exhibition this. The next ball drives through the extra cover region to get another boundary. A dot ball later he plays the ramp shot and finds another boundary through the third man.
Surya seems to be in a hurry to finish the game. A dot and single to finish. MI raced to 130/4 after 16. Time for a time-out between MI vs RCB. Just 35 needed from 24 balls. It’s Surya special being served tonight. Excellent batting display from Surya this. He along with Pandya would like to continue this till the end. RCB have simply had no answers to Surya’s batting. They need wickets if they need to make any dents otherwise, it would be over in the next 2 overs. This over, saw MI getting back in the game with Bumrah double-wicket maiden. Does RCB have an ace up their sleeve?
Morris to continue, just 4 singles from the first 5 balls and then makes the mistake of bowling to his pads and Surya flicks it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Pressure released from Morris and it’s Surya at the thick of things again. MI are 138/4 after 17. Steyn to bowl his final Starts with a dot. A wide the next. Then nails in the yorker. Then two wides again, Hardik takes a single. Surya then gets on one knee and scoops one over the keeper for a maximum. Shades of AB therefrom Surya. A single and dot to end the over and MI are 149/4 after 18. Just 16 needed from 12.
Morris is back in the attack and starts with a dot. A double and a single later Morris bowls one full and straight and Hardik plays the helicopter shot and it’s gone for half a dozen. Some words exchanged there. Morris then bowls a full and a wider ball and Hardik smacks it hard but straight to Siraj at covers. Another heated exchange between Morris and Hardik. Hardik has to depart. MI need 7 to win. Pollard walks in to bat. Morris then misses his yorker and it’s converted to a full toss on the pads and a boundary through mid-wicket to end the over. 13 runs from it. MI are 162/5 after 19.
Siraj to bowl the final over. Just 3 runs needed to win and Surya finishes off with style. Clears the infield and gets the boundary. Then gestures towards the dressing room that I am there believe in me and stay calm. He was the difference between the two sides along with the 16th over from Bumrah. Surya certainly making a statement to the Indian captain there for not having included him in the Indian team for the Australian series. A few stare downs also took place between him and Kohli in between. In the end, a comfortable win for MI and they certainly made a statement and are almost certain to qualify for the play-offs.
Awards:
Surya Kumar Yadav – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
Surya Kumar Yadav – Altroz super striker of the match.
Surya Kumar Yadav- Unacademy – Let’s crack it.
Devdutt Paddikal – Cred power player of the match.
Surya Kumar Yadav– Man of the Match.
Well MI got the better of RCB. They win and are almost certain to qualify for the play-offs. RCB now have lost 2 in 2 and seem to have hit a snag. No teams have qualified for the plays offs yet, with the top-7 all having a chance to finish top 4. RCB started well but then the last 5 overs came to haunt them, MI pulled things quite nicely in the end while bowling and RCB were reduced to just a par score. MI started cautiously but then Surya had other plans and proved a point to Indian captain which proved to be a match-winning inning. Let’s take a look in the standings. For more IPL content click here.
Watch the Match Highlights of MI vs RCB here-
Stay tuned for Chapter 15 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao.
Vivek Nair
