Hello All,
Welcome to Match 31 of IPL 2020, RCB vs KXIP. RCB having won their last two matches would love to continue their winning run, Meanwhile Punjab would be looking forward to break their losing streak and win against the only team they have beaten in this tournament thus far. RCB look a rejuvenated side after the inclusion of Morris having a better balanced side. For Punjab it’s do or die from now on for each game. They would certainly be looking forward to having services of Chris Gayle and what a better way to introduce him against his old franchise- RCB.
It’s toss time here at Sharjah, The RCB captain calls it right and decides to bat first. RCB go with an unchanged team to the last time they played in Sharjah. KXIP make 3 changes Mandeep, Mujeeb and Prabsimran make way for Gayle, Ashwin and Hooda.
IPL 2020: Match 31. RCB vs KXIP.
Live from- Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Time- 7:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- KN Anantha Padmanabhan & Chettithody Shamshuddin
3rd umpire- Richard Illingworth
Match official- Vengalil Narayan Kutty
Teams:
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP): Chris Gayle, KL Rahul (c/wk), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Finch and Devdutt Padikkal are out in the middle for RCB. Surprise it’s Maxwell who will be open the attack for KXIP. Finch takes a single off the first. Two balls later Dev takes a single. On the last ball Finch gets one in his arc and slog-sweeps it for a maximum. RCB are 8/0 after 1. Shami to bowl from the other end. Dev takes a single off the first. The next ball, nips back in beats Finch, misses the stumps and also missed by Rahul and goes for 4 byes. Two dots later Finch comes down and hits it over mid-on for a boundary. Single to finish things off. RCB are 18/0 after 2.
Arshdeep is introduced in the attack, squares up Finch and just short of Gayle at first slip. After a single and then a double Dev flicks it over short third man for a boundary. Bowls a wide and a single to finish the third. 9 coming from it. Shami resumes, after 4 singles Dev takes the charge and picks himself half a dozen over deep mid wicket. A single to finish the over. RCB are 38/0 after 4.
Arshdeep to continue and he bags for Dev on his first, Dev was committed to the short, the ball holding up after pitching balloons a simple catch to Pooran at short covers. Soft dismissal this. Kohli walks in to bat, 2 singles later he just creams one through covers for a boundary. The next ball flicks it to the fence for another boundary. A good effort this by Hooda in the deep but could not release the ball when in play. A single to finish the over. 11 from it. Bishnoi is introduced in the attack, starts with a dot and two singles then Kohli pulls one for a boundary a wide and single to finish the 6th. RCB are 57/1.
Murugan Ashwin is introduces in the attack, Spin from both ends now. Kohli starts off with a single. The next ball gets a thick outside edge, Rahul cannot hold on to it and it goes for a boundary. He gets his man the next delivery through the gap between bat and pad. Excellent bowling this for Ashwin. Punjab get their second. Surprise Sundar walks in to bat at 4. Maybe Kohli wants a left-right combination. RCB are 63/2 after 7. Maxwell is brought back and bowls a tight over just 6 runs from it. Ashwin is brought back and bowls another tight over again just 6 from it. RCB are 75/2 after 9.
It’s time for the first strategic timeout in RCB vs KXIP encounter. RCB had a great start but Punjab seem to pull things back with two wickets. Sundar in place of AB strategy hope it does not backfire. Kohli seems in prime form especially playing his 200th game for RCB. Maxwell continues after the break, with two single off the first two, Maxwells bowls a gift ball down the leg and Sundar accepts it with a boundary. Another two singles to finish the over. RCB are 83/2 after 10.
Ashwin to continue, Kohli takes a double and a single from first two balls. The third ball he bowls a google, Sundar slogs sweeps it but it goes straight in the air rather than distance and a simple catch to Jordan in the deep. Sundar has done his job to steady the innings. Surprise again we have Dube walking in. Where is ABD?? The camera man shows AB all padded up but in the dressing room, hope he is okay. Two singles to finish the over. RCB are 88/3 after 11. Maxwell to bowl his last and he just gives 6 runs from it. He finishes his spell 0/28. Bishnoi is back and bowls an excellent over giving away just 3. RCB are 97/3 after 13.
Jordan is introduced in the attack and he bowls a disciplined first over. Just 6 runs from it. Time for another strategic time out in- RCB vs KXIP. Well Punjab have bowled exceptionally well here choking the boundaries some credit to RCB as well for not brining in the in-form ABD. Their plan to bring in Sundar was okay but then Dube also seems to have backfired. Punjab bowled out maxwell and have Jordan’s and Bishnoi’s over still left for AB to face. Hopefully RCB won’t regret this decision in the end.
Bishnoi is back, Kohli takes a single. Dube on the next one finally connects and hits one down long-off for a maximum. On the next he slog sweeps a wrong’un and into the stands for another maximum. Seems like Dube has been given the license to go big. A total of 19 runs from from that over. RCB are 122/3 after 15. Jordan is back, bowls a dot and Maxwell almost had Kohli had he hit the stumps at non striker end. 4 singles and a wide later, Jordan get rid of Dube. A well directed short ball in the body, Dube pulls it but only manages a top edge and a good running catch from Rahul. RCB are 127/4 after 16.
Finally AB comes into bat, Rahul bring in the leg spinner straight away Ashwin bowls another tidy over just 6 from it and ends with 2/23. Shami to bowl the 18th. Kohli takes a single off the first. A dot on the second and then he gets the big wicket of AB. AB never looked settled in the middle and falls. He tried to go big over mid-off but the slowness of the wicket only manages the toe end of the bat and easy catch to Hooda. The plan certainly has backfired to hold AB back. Morris is in. Kohli takes a quick double.
The next ball, Shami bowls a short one, Kohli is early on the pull, the slowness off the wicket does him in as he only manages to glove it as it balloons it in the air and Rahul takes another catch. Kohli and AB both gone in one over and Shami has a big smile on his face. Punjab have their noses ahead at this time. The backbone of RCB is taken down. Udana walks in and takes a single. Just 4 from the over.
Jordan is back and gives just 3 singles off his first 3. The next ball Jordan bowls it short and Morris with his big handle ramps it over point for a maximum! Some shot this. Just 10 from the 19th. RCB are 147/6 after 19.
Shami to bowl the final over, First ball Morris scoops the yorker for a boundary over short fine leg. Takes a single off the next. Bowls a short one and Udana pulls a flat batted short for a maximum, precious runs this for RCB. Takes a single off the next. The next ball Shami bowls the slower ball, Morris waits for it and smashes it over long-on for another maximum. Last ball, a juicy full toss on the pads and Morris deposits it for another maximum! Huge over this for RCB 24 runs from it. RCB end with 171/6 on the board.
Well, a huge last over for RCB would certainly have got them some confidence back. Would that prove to be a match changing one. A good start from RCB but then KXIP bowlers bowled some tight spells in the middle and Shami’s two wickets of AB and Kohli dented RCB’s hope but then again the 24-runs off his final over could prove costly. RCB could have easily scored more after a solid start but some surprising tactics were used- Playing your best batsman at 6 which eventually backfired had not Morris played that innings the score would have been below par. KXIP need to win to keep their campaign alive. The run chase coming up next.
Rahul and Agarwal are at the middle opening for KXIP. Chris Morris will open the attack for RCB. He starts off well giving away just a single off his first. Saini to bowl from the other end. Starts off with a dot. The next ball bowled down the leg and easy pickings this for the orange cap holder. 4 dot balls helped with some good fielding. A cautious start by KXIP. 5/0 after 2.
Morris is back to bowl his second. Starts off with a wide. After two doubles a single and a dot ball Rahul connects one and pulls it flat over deep square leg for a maximum. Single to finish off the over. 13 runs from it. KXIP are 18/0 after 3. Chahal is brought in the attack, starts with a dot and a single. The next ball Agarwal dances down the track and hits it for a maximum over long-off. A dot on the next and then he pulls a short ball toward the deep mid wicket boundary. Last ball is another flighted delivery and Agarwal gets another boundary. 15 runs from it. KXIP are 33/0 after 4.
They decided to take on Chahal and that has paid off. They got more runs off him in his first than his 4 overs from in previous game (12). Saini is brought back and Rahul greets him with a maximum- another flat 6, right on the boundary cushion. After 3 singles Agarwal lofts one over the bowlers head for a boundary to end the over. 13 runs from it. Udana is brought in the attack, 3 singles off the first 3 and then Agarwal picks the slower one and deposits it over long-on for another maximum. A single to finish the over. 10 runs from it. Also bringing up the 50-run stand. It’s 56/0 after 6.
Time for a timeout between RCB vs KXIP. RCB need to get a breakthrough. KXIP have batted with intent. Siraj is brought in the attack, starts off with 4 singles and the Agarwal takes the aerial route for another boundary over covers. Single to finish the over. KXIP are 65/0 after 7. Chahal is brought back in the attack. Starts with a dot and 4 wides. 3 singles and then Agarwal hits one straight back over Chahal’s head for a maximum. Last ball, Chahal tosses another one and Agarwal plays the slog sweep and misses and sees his leg stump uprooted. Chahal get his first and waves a good bye to Agarwal. KXIP are 78/1 after 8.
Gayle- The universal Boss, walks in to bat at 3, Sundar is brought in and bowls an economical over just 4 from it. Saini is back in the attack and he gives away just 2 from it. RCB are pulling things back a bit, they would hope to continue this. So after 10 overs KXIP are 84/1. 88 runs needed off 60 balls. Sundar to continue, he gives away just 4 singles. KXIP are 88/1 after 11.
Siraj back in, we see first signs of aggression from Gayle, but still a single. Two singles later, finally Rahul gets one in his slot and hits it for a maximum over deep mid wicket, next ball same ball, same result but this time over long-on! Siraj just let loose all the pressure created in last 3 overs. 15 runs from it and KXIP are 103-1 after 12. 69 needed from 48 balls. Sundar to continue after two singles Gayle finally gets one in his slot, hit straight back over the bowler for a maximum! Two singles later the last ball, Gayle moves towards off and muscles it over the leg side for the 2nd maximum from the over. What power!
The calm before the storm? 16 runs from it. Just 53 needed from 42. Morris is brought back, Rahul takes a single. The second ball- bowls it full and straight, umpire thinks long and finally gives it out. Gayle takes a review after a chat. We see a spike in ultra-edge and the call is overturned. Good use of technology there. Gayle survives. Rahul takes a single and gets his 50 from 37 balls. Just 4 runs from Morris over and its 123-1 after 14.
Saini to bowl his final and gives just 3 runs. Excellent stuff from the young man. He finishes with 0/21. KXIP are 126/1 after 15. Just 46 needed from last 5 with 9 wickets remaining. Surprise again from RCB they have handed Siraj the ball when they have overs from Chahal, Udana and Morris to complete the 5. Lets see how he fares. A wide to start the over, Gayle hits the next for a boundary over the bowlers head. The next ball, clears his front leg and hits it straight over extra-cover for a 6! Takes a single, now its Rahul turns to hit a maximum- Lands on the roof! 20 from it. It’s 146-1 after 16.
Time for another Timeout between RCB vs KXIP. Easy target now for Punjab now. 26 needed from 24 balls. Kohli’s certainly did miss a trick my bowling Siraj again. KXIP would not mind that one bit. Almost run a ball needed now for a win. Sundar to continue and is greeted with a maximum from Gayle over long-on. Leave the next ball. Connects the third for half a dozen over long-on. Three singles to end the over and the Gayle storm certainly arrived today. His first game this IPL and he makes an announcement with a 50 off just 36 balls. 15 runs from the over. KXIP need just 11 from 18 balls.
Morris is back to bowl his final, starts off with a couple of wides not what RCB need at this point but then comes back just giving two singles. Just gives away 4 runs from it. 7 needed from 12 balls. Udana to bowl the 19th will the match get over in this over? A dot and then a wide down the leg to start with. Gives no boundaries just 4 singles from it. Punjab leave it till the last over. KXIP are 170/1 after 19. Just 2 need now.
Chahal is handed the ball, he has to defend 2 runs. Gayle on strike. Starts off with a dot. The second ball he gives lots off rev and it’s tossed up- Gayle does not offer a shot thinking it would be a wide but not to be. The third ball he slog sweeps. Dev in the deep does excellent fielding and KXIP do not run the second run there was an easy two there. 1 needed from 3 balls. Will this result in another super over like vs DC earlier. 4th ball Rahul cuts but just short of Sundar at point. Talk about pressure1 needed from 2. 5th ball Rahul hits it straight to covers and Gayle is found short off his crease.
What are you doing Punjab!! There was never a run there as Rahul had hit it so hard. Dev collects it and a straight throw to AB and he does he rest. Drama all over again! Pooran the new batsman in and he needs to get the single. Chahal comes into bowl and stops adding to more drama, probably to see what the batsman does. Chahal to bowl the final ball, bowls a loopy full wide ball, Pooran gives him charge and connects just well enough to sail over Morris head at long-on! A 6 to finish off the chase. Punjab leave it too late for the win but win in the end.
Ohh what a match! In IPL nothing is over until the end. KXIP almost messed it up again. Kohli has a smile on his face and Rahul looks relieved. With 11 need from 18, 7 from 12 and just 2 in the final over, they managed to bring the equation to 1 from 1. The 6 from Pooran also just clearing long-on any other ground would have resulted in a catch in the deep. So KXIP make it 2 in 2 vs RCB this season and they are alive in the tournament. After a solid start, by ex-RCBians Chahal got the break through leading to another ex walking in and with it the Gayle storm.
Awards-
KL Rahul – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
Mayank Agarwal – Altroz super striker of the match.
Chris Gayle- Unacademy – Let’s crack it.
Mayank Agarwal – Cred power player of the match.
KL Rahul – Man of the Match.
Punjab would be happy to finally register a win and end their 5 match losing streak. RCB on the other had would be disappointed with the loss. Punjab still alive in the tournament though still in last place are just 2 points below SRH who are at 5th. RCB would certainly need to question some of their tactics- Dropping AB to 6th when he was the in-form batsman, Sundar not bowling in the powerplay. The 16th over bowled by Siraj where we had overs from Chahal, Morris and Udana left. Anyways that how the game panned out. RCB would like to better themselves in the next.
RCB are still placed third in the table and Punjab at the bottom but that can all change in the future. For more IPL content click here.
Watch the Match Highlights of RCB vs KXIP here-
Stay tuned for Chapter 11 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao.
Vivek Nair
