Hello All,
Welcome to another weekend doubleheader this time it’s RR vs RCB. Both teams are coming back with a defeat in their previous game. For RR their middle-order conundrum continues to haunt them while RCB will look to stick with their original plans and not mess with the winning tactics like the did against Punjab. Both teams will look to get back into winning ways. RR are in dire need for wins to keep them afloat and RCB would love to maintain their standings in the table and get the ‘W’ under them.
It’s toss time here at Dubai, The RR captain calls it right and decides to bat first. RR go with an unchanged team to their last game. RCB make 2 changes- Gurkeerat Singh replacing Siraj and Shivam Dube making way for Shahbaz Ahmed.
IPL 2020: Match 33. RR vs RCB.
Live from- Dube International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Time- 3:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- Nitin Menon & Anil Chaudhary
3rd umpire- Paul Reiffel
Match official- Javagal Srinath
Teams:
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Shahbaz Ahmed, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Steven Smith (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi.
Uthappa and Stokes are at the crease to open for RR. Washington Sundar will open the attack for RCB. RCB using their tried and tested strategy and Sudar starts giving just 2 singles from his first over. Morris to bowl from the other end. He too starts well giving just 3 from it. Good tight bowling this from RCB. Sundar resumes and Uthappa punches it through the off for the first boundary. The next ball Sundar bowls it on the legs and Uthappa sweeps and sweeps hard for another boundary. A dot later Uthappa sweeps again and gets another boundary. A dot and the last ball also races away to the boundary. 16 runs from it. RR changing gears are 21/0 after 3.
Udana is introduced in the attack and Stokes greets him with a boundary. Advances and gets a thick outside edge for a boundary through short third man. Two dots, a single and two sides later Uthappa finds the boundary again through mid-on. The last ball Udana bowls the length ball and Uthappa lofts it handsomely for a maximum. 17 from the over. RR are 38/0 after 4. Saini is brought in starts with a dot. The next ball is pulled over mid-wicket by Stokes. Three singles and a double to end the over. RR are 47/0 after 5.
Morris is back, starts with a wide two dots and a double later gets the better of Stokes. It’s a slower short one, Stokes is in the short early probably the ball holding on the pitch and he just manages to glove it to AB who takes a simple catch. Sanju Samson walks in at 3. Two singles to finish the over and RR are 52/1 after the end of power play.
Saini to resume, starts with a dot the next ball Uthappa walks down and hits one over the covers for a boundary. Saini bowls a bouncer and Uthappa seeing the ball as a football pulls one over mid-wicket for another boundaries. In some form here Uthappa. Two singles to end the over. RR reach 62/1 after 7. Chahal to continue and Samson greets him with a maximum over wide of long-on. A dot and a single later, Uthappa goes aerial using the slog-sweep, and Finch positions himself and takes an easy catch to end Uthappa’s stay. He was looking dangerous today but Chahal gets the breakthrough. Smith walks in at 4.
The next ball he bowls a wide slower leg break, moving away from the batsman, Samson sees the width and goes after it but only manages to hit the toe end of the bat and an easy catch to Morris at long-off. It’s 2 in 2 for RCB and Chahal. Buttler walks in to face the hat-trick ball and just lets it go. RR are 69/3 after 8. So the debutant is handed the ball- Shahbaz Ahmed Starts off with a single and a double then Buttler places one beautifully through the covers for his first boundary. Two dots to end the over. RR are 76/3 after 9.
So time for strategic timeout in RR vs RCB game. RR had a great opening partnership and Uthappa came out in flying colours. But Chahal’s 2 wicket in 2 balls would put a dent in RR’s scoring. The game is evenly poised now. Time for some Smith-Buttler magic or RCB peg them back further. Chahal resumes and gives just 4 singles from it. RR are 80/3 at the halfway mark. Shahbaz Ahmed is back and after two singles Buttler dances down the track and hits it high and long into the long-off stands. Three singles to end the over and RR reach 91/3 after 11.
Chahal to continue, gives 5 from it. Smart play by RR here not taking much chances against Chahal. Sundar is brought in to bowl and he just gives 3 singles and two double. The RR batsman would be itching now to get some boundaries. Saini comes into bowl and he too bowls a tidy over just conceding 5 off it. RR are 108/3 after 14. Udana is brought back in the attack, two singles later, Udana bowls a short one and Smith takes the aerial route over point for a boundary. Bowls the same ball again and same result this time over short third man. Poor bowling this from Udana. A single to finish the over. RR are 119/3 after 15. Also bring up the 50-run stand.
Morris is back in the attack and Smith greets him a maximum. What a shot that from Smith! On the pads and Smith just whips it over deep backward square for a 6. Takes a single off the next a wide and the Buttler tries to go big but is deceived by the slower ball manages only the toe end and a simple catch to Saini at mid-off. Big wicket this for RCB and it’s Morris again to get one. Time for Strategic time out 2 in RR vs RCB. RR would now hope that Smith stays till the end a good platform for Tewatia and Archer to go big in the end. Final 27 balls coming up.
Tewatia walks in and Smith continues with a boundary – What placement this. Two singles to end the over. 14 runs from it. RR are 133/4 after 16. Saini is back to bowl his final and gives away just 6 singles from it. Finishing with 0/30. Chahal to bowl the 18th, Smith greets him with a reverse sweep boundary. Two singles later, Smith dances down the track for a boundary and gets his 50 off just 30 balls and well seems like Chahal has bowled a no-ball. Free hit coming up. Smith goes big but straight in the hands of deep mid-wicket but won’t matter a single taken. A single later, Smith reverse sweeps, again and again, a no-ball from Chahal. What are you doing Chahal!
Spinner bowling no-balls and that too two off them quite costly over this. Free -hit coming up and Smith manages only a single. 19 runs scored from it. RR reach 158/4 after 18. Udana to bowl the 19th, Smith takes a single then the next Tewatia just whips it from the pads for a maximum some short this. Two doubles and a dot later, the final ball Tewatia scopes it out to the boundary. Tewatia showing his skills here. RR are 173/4 after 19. Morris to bowl the final, Starts with a dot. Smith tries for a big one but an impressive catch there in the deep by Ahmed. RCB get their man.
Archer walks in. A single, wide, dot and 2 runs off the next balls. The last ball is full and straight yorker. Archer misses and Morris appeals and the Umpire has no guesses, raises his finger straight away. Archer reviews just to get that one leg bye but the review has 3 reds. So archer has to depart. RR finish with 177/6 after 20. So good total this for RR after deciding to bat first. Uthappa gave them a blazing start, but then two wickets in one over from Chahal brought them back in the game. The spinners bowled a tight middle over but Smith had other ideas in the end. Morris again got RCB back and finished with 4/26. A good chase awaits.
Devdutt Padikkal and Finch to open the innings for RCB. Jofra Archer will open the attack for RR. He bowls a quick and fiery opening over, just 4 from it. RCB are 4/0 after 1. Shreyas Gopal to bowl from the other end. 5 singles from it. Archer to continue, Dev takes a single and then Finch connects one and it’s out of here for a maximum! A 6 via pull through cow corner. Archer responds with 3-peach of a delivery. The final ball, Finch just hits it through the line for a maximum over long-off. A good contest between bat and ball. RCB are 22/0 after 3.
Gopal to continue, starts with a googly. Dev takes a single off the next. Finch then tries the slog sweep and only manages to get a top edge and Uthappa gets around to take a catch at mid-on. Another start not converted form Finch. Kohli walks in to bat at 3. Two singles and a double to end the over. 5 runs from it. Kartik Tyagi is introduced in the attack. Kohli takes a single off the first. A dot ball later Dev pulls one fine for a boundary. The next ball the plays the delicate touch by opening the face of the bat at the last moment and a boundary through short third man. Two singles to finish the over.
Unadkat is brought in the attack, starts off with a double Kohli, two dots and then Kohli charges down and whacks it over mid-on for a boundary. Good shot that from the King. A dot and a double to end the powerplay. RCB reach 47/1. Tewatia is brought in the attack and bowls an economical over, just 4 from it. Unadkat to continue and gives no freebies and just 4 singles from it. RR are certainly tightening the runs here. Tewatia continues, two dots in Dev takes a single, but it’s also a no-ball. Kohli on strike misses out on a full toss and checks with the umpire for another ball for height.
Umpire thinks but then decides against it only a single . A double taken by Dev then Tewatia gets a hat-trick of wides. Last ball Dev tries a slog sweep but only manages a top-edge, but it falls short of Uthappa. Tewatia is furious that he did not go for the catch which was quite impossible. 9 runs from it. RCB are 64/1 after 9. Time for strategic timeout between RR vs RCB. RCB have not lost a wicket. The last time both sides met this pair played a match winning partnership. Though RR have bowled better and kept a check on flow of runs. Interesting chase ahead.
Gopal is back in the attack, Three balls and 3 singles taken then the Kohli special double on display. The last ball Gopal bowls one in Kohli’s arc and he thanks him with a maximum over deep mid wicket. 13 runs from it and RCB are 77/1 after 10.
Tewatia to continue and bowls a tidy over just 7 from it. Tyagi comes in and gives just 8 runs from it. Good tight bowling this from RR. Tewatia to bowl his final, starts off with a couple of singles. The third ball Kohli goes for the lofted shot and connects well for a maximum over long-on. A single and wide ball later, Dev tries to connect one but Tewatia has bowled the wide googly and only managing to hit the toe end of the bat an easy catch to Stokes in the deep. A scratchy innings from Dev comes to an end. RCB are 102/2 after 13. AB walks in to bat at 4. His correct position.
Tyagi comes into bowl and what a blinder there in the deep from Tewatia. Ohh what a disappointment for those looking for the AB-Kohli show. Kohli has to depart. Hit it straight and flat cross-batted shot to the right of Tewatia. He covers the ground collects with both the hands. Throws the ball as he was going over and collects it back after getting in. Is that a turning point in the match? Kohli departs for 43. Gurkeerat in to bat at 5. Tyagi finishes an impressive over, just 2 from it. Sensational bowling this from the young man and even got Kohli. RCB are 104/3 after 14.
Gopal to bowl his final, starts with 4 singles, a wide and then Good fielding from Tyagi to keep it for 3 and a double to finish the over. RCB are 114/3 after 15. Archer is brought back in the attack, just 4 singles off the first 4 balls, AB connects the slower leg cutter from Archer into the third tier for a maximum. A dot to finish the over. RCB are 124/3 after 15. Time for another strategic timeout between RR vs RCB. The equation is 54 needed from 24 balls. RR seems to have their noses ahead but RCB still have the services of AB left.
RR would be looking to get AB early while RCB would be hoping he gets the maximum balls to get them over the line. Unadkat to bowl his third, he bowls 3 precious dots and Gurkeerat cannot connect it. Getting rusty it seems as he’s batting after a long gap. Finally, get a single off the third. AB then send one over covers for a maximum what a shot that! Similar to what Gurkeerat was finding it tough AB makes it look so easy. A 2 to end the over. RCB are 133/3 after 17. Tyagi to bowl, Mann takes a single, AB hits one over backward point for another 4. A single and 3 were taken after a good stop from Unadkat.
Single to finish the over. Excellent over this from the young last just 10 from it under pressure. RCB are 143/3 after 18. 35 needed from the last 2 overs. Smith takes a gamble and gives Unadkat the ball. First ball, AB clears his front leg and smokes the slower off-cutter over mid wicket for a 6. The next ball and AB gets half a dozen more, this time over long-on. What a shot that! Third ball Unadkat balls it short and AB the form he is in gets a hat-trick of maximum, this time over deep backward square leg. Ohh just crazing batting this from Mr. 360! Takes a single the next Unadkat would be relieved. A wide and then Gurkeerat finally connects one for a 4.
A single to finish the over. 25 runs coming from it. AB goes into full destruction mode. Smith should have bowled Archer instead the gamble has backfired. RCB are 168/3 after 19. Archer now to bowl the final just 10 needed to win. Starts with a low full-toss, two runs completed. A single of the next. Archer to AB and another 2 through long-on. Archer bowls full on the leg and AB just smokes it out over deep mid-wicket and RCB win by 7 wickets! He also gets to his 50 with that off just 22 balls. Absolute carnage this from AB especially Unadkat feeling the main wrath. Made a mockery off him.
Awards-
Chris Morris – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
AB de Villiers – Altroz super striker of the match.
AB de Villiers- Unacademy – Let’s crack it.
Robin Uthappa – Cred power player of the match.
AB De Villiers – Man of the Match.
Ohh what a match this! RR batting first got to a good challenging total thanks to Uthappa to start and Smith to finish the innings. Chahal and Morris got RCB back in the game chipping in wickets when needed. RCB while batting started well but just could not get going in the middle and then we saw a Master class from ABD! Looked like he was batting on a different pitch altogether. Showed his class again. 54 needed from 24 and then 35 from 12 the AB special started, making it look so easy in the end. Bowling Archer the 19 maybe could had made a difference.
Kohli running out and hugging AB just shows how important and spectacular that innings from AB was. In the end RCB get the win and 2 points. For more IPL content click here.
Watch the Match Highlights of RR vs RCB here-
Stay tuned for Chapter 12 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao.
Vivek Nair
