Hello All,
Welcome to the first doubleheader of IPL 2020. It’s RCB vs RR in the first clash of the day. RCB would be a relieved bunch after an intense finish to their last game against MI. They still need to improve on their death bowling, the absence of Morris is hurting the team combination. Meanwhile in the other side of the camp RR seam to be too top dependent and a brittle middle-order which was quite visible in their last game against KKR. They are certainly missing the service of Ben Stokes. Both teams would be looking to improve on their team balance and get a ‘W’ under their belt.
Meanwhile, it’s Toss time, both the captains in the center, Smith wins the toss and decides to bat first. Making one change to the team that faced KKR- Lomror in for Ankit Rajpoot. RCB going in with the same team that face MI.
IPL 2020: Match 15. RCB vs RR
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, Sundaram Ravi
3rd umpire- Pashchim Pathak
Match official- Manu Nayyar
Teams-
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Shivam Dube, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Adam Zampa, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Smith (c), Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Tom Curran, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat.
It’s Jos Buttler and Steven Smith to open the batting for RR, while Udana will open the bowling for RCB. The first ball is edged and just short of first slip hardly bounced! The next ball is swatted to the fence for a boundary and RR open their account. A single off the next ball. Udana bowls 2 good balls then bowls a poor delivery on the legs and Smith says thank you- Another boundary. 9 from the first over. Sundar to bowl from the other end. Starts off with a dot, is swept for a boundary the next ball. Just 3 singles off the rest. RR are 16/0 after 2.
Udana to continue and is greeted by a maximum! Stand and deliver. The next ball bowls a short one and Buttler just pulls it for a boundary. Poor bowling this from Udana. Takes a single off the third. Udana to Smith and he has got the big fish. Smith goes- Chopped on. Bowls it full and wide, it has 4 written all over it, but the slowness of the pitch and a slower ball, Smith was just not able to play the cut shot, gets the inside edge and the stumps are shattered. Samson in to bat and starts off with a magnificent cover drive for a boundary. A dot to finish the over. It’s 31/1 after 3.
Saini comes in as first change, Edged and taken at wide first slip. Good catch there by Dev. Great start for Saini and RCB. It was full and wide, Buttler goes for the drive but gets an outside edge and Dev makes no mistake. Uthappa walks in to bat. Saini just bowls the perfect over. Starts off with a wicket maiden! Chahal brought into the attack and he too strike first ball! A good reflex return catch this by Chahal and Samson is gone. We go upstairs, Soft signal is -OUT and the third umpire does not find enough evidence to overturn the signal and the soft signal stands!
Dream start for RCB here, RR top order is back in the shed. Lomror walks in, just 2 singles off the over and RR are 33/3 after 5. Sundar is brought back into the attack and bowls another tidy over just 5 from it. RR end the powerplay with scorecard reading 38/3.
Zampa is introduced into the attack. After 4 singles of 5 balls, Uthappa times it straight back over the bowlers head for a boundary to end the over. 8 runs from it. It’s 46/3 after 7. Sundar to continue and bowls another tidy over giving away just 4 singles. RR finally reach their 50 on the 8th over. Zampa is back, starts with a single the next ball Lomror slog sweeps it for a maximum! Much needed boundary this for RR and RCB take the strategic timeout. RCB are dominating the game while RR would be looking forward to this partnership to reach a respectable total.
Zampa resumes his over and just gives 4 singles, 11 from the over. Saini back into the attack, Uthappa takes a single off the first ball, a dot on the second and Lomror plays an inside out shot for a boundary over long off. Ends the over with 1, 1, 2. 9 from it and its 70/3 after 10. Chahal is back and he gets the wicket of Uthappa. Uthappa trying to up the ante tries to clear long off but hits it straight to the fielder there. Chahal gets his second and RR in deep trouble now. Just 3 singles to finish the over. It’s 73/3 after 11.
Riyan Parag comes in to bat. Dube to bowl his first, Lomror tries to attack- in the air and just falls short of the fielder a single taken. Completes his over quick and just 4 singles from it. It’s 77/4 after 12. Zampa to continue starts off with a dot, a single off the second and third. Parag finally connects one and hits it straight down the ground for a boundary. Two singles to finish the over and it’s 85/4 after 13. Sundar bowls his final over and gives away just 4 singles from it and finishes with figures of 0/20. Good economical spell this from Sundar. RR reach 89/4 after 14.
Chahal is back into the attack. Starts off with 3 singles and a dot them Lomror decides to take the aerial route and gets a maximum over long-on. A single to finish the over. RR reach 99/4 after 15. Udana is back into the attack gives 1, 2, wide, 1, 1 and then Parag falls. Another short ball from Udana, no connection from Parag and straight into the hands of Finch at long-on. Tewatia is in and RR would need him to fire to get to a respectable total. Lomror takes a single off the last to retain strike. 7 from it and it’s 106/5 after 16.
Chahar to bowl his final over. Lomror sits and waits on the back foot and hits one out of the park for a maximum. After two singles, Chahal flights one wide outside off, Lomror tries to reach it but does not get the hold of it and it lands into the hands of Long-off where Dev takes a dolly! End of a gritty inning from Lomror, get out on 47. It’s Archer into the crease. RR would certainly require for both these players to get them going. Chahal bowls straight and gives 2 runs away. 10 from the over and RR reach 116/6 after 17. Chahal finishes with 3/24.
Saini back into the attack and Tewatia just flicks it on the leg side for a maximum. What a shot by this young lad! After two singles, Saini bowls a full toss and Tewatia goes for a wild swing getting a thick outside edge and excellent save by AB behind the stumps saving a certain boundary. A single off the next and the last ball is met with a boundary thanks to a French cut by Archer. 13 runs from it. RR are 129/6 after 18. Udana is back, starts off with a single and a dot the bowls one to Archer in his arch and he just muscles it for a flat 6 over deep midwicket!
A double from the next, and Udana makes a mess of a run out opportunity. Tewatia was also at the strikers end when Archer sent him back, a direct throw at bowlers end would have seen the end but not today. Tewatia survives. A single off the last ball. 10 runs coming from the over. RR are 139/6 after 19.
Saini to bowl the final, Archer takes a single off the first, then Saini bowls a beamer taking Tewatia down, nasty blow this but Tewatia gives a thumbs up, free hit coming up and that is dispatched for a maximum! What a reply from Tewatia! Length ball in his arch and goes the distance. The next ball yet another Maximum. Dealing in 6’s is Tewatia. A dot and a single. The last ball, Archer tries to scoop a short ball but instead gets hit on the helmet. Fiery stuff from Saini. Dot to finish the proceedings. 15 runs from it and RR end with 154/6.
So a good recovery from RR managing to get past 150 after their initial hiccups. Buttler started off with a flier but then quick wickets by Chahal in the middle put on the brakes for RR. The middle-order came out ordinary again. Lomror played a good inning just missing out on a deserving 50. Tewatia and Archer providing the finishing touches by getting 48 from the last 4 overs taking RR over the 150-mark. So RCB in need of 155 to get the win. Archer, Gopal and Tewatia would hold the key for RR to win.
Back live, we see Devdutt Padikkal and Finch to open the innings for RCB and Jofra Archer for RR. Starts bang on target and Dev takes a single to get off strike. After 4 excellent delivers making Finch unsettled Archer bowls a short and wide ball and Finch does not miss on that and gets a boundary through the off. 5 from the first over. Unadkat to partner Archer and Dev greets him with a flick down the leg side for a maximum! What a shot this, reminding of Yuvi. Defends the next and then just muscles the ball over mid-wicket for a boundary. Signs of a man in form. Ends the over with 2, 2, and a single. 15 runs coming from it.
RCB – 20/0 after 2. Shreyas Gopal in as first change and Finch greets him with a boundary. A googly picked up by Finch there. Finch sweeps the next ball doesn’t connect. RR appeal but umpires turns them down so RR review. Ultra edge shows no bat involved, Ball tracking shows impact in line and hitting the wickets and Finch has to depart. Gopal again starts well against RCB. First wicket down for RCB. Kohli comes into bat, takes a single straight away. Dev takes a single off the next a dot to finish the over. 7 from it and RCB reach 27/1 after 3.
Archer to continue, starts with a dot, a poor delivery on the pads and Dev says thanks by hitting it down the leg for a boundary. A single of the next and 3 dots to end the over. Excellent bowling this from Archer. Kohli not his his best form this tournament and RR would be etching to get him early again. 5 from it and RCB are 32/1 after 4. Gopal to continue, Dev takes a single, dot on the second and the 3rd one meets the fence for a boundary. First boundary for Kohli (non super over) this IPL after 3 matches! Two singles to end the over. 7 from it. RCB end with 39/1 after 5.
Tom Curran brought in the attack, Dev takes a double a dot in the next ball, the 3rd one meets the fence for a boundary, poor bowling this from Curran. A dot and then Dev slaps it over extra cover for a boundary some brute force this from Dev. The last ball hits it in the air, but luckily for him, lands in no man land takes a single. RCB end their power play with 50/1. Rahul Tewatia is brought into the attack and he bowls an excellent first over giving away just 5 from it. It’s 55/1 after 7. Strategic time out is taken. RCB needing 100 from 78 balls.
Curran is back for his second, starts with 3 singles, a dot, a double and a misfield by Lomror giving a boundary for Kohli. A crisp cover drive from Kohli and Lomror could not cover the ball. 9 from it. It’s 64/1 after 8. Tewatia returns and Dev takes a single. Kohli then swaths the ball for a boundary. All about the wrist work and the placement. Kohli seems to be in fine form today can he make it count? Two singles to finish the over and RCB are 71/1 after 9. Gopal back just gives away 6 runs also bringing up the 50-run partnership. RCB are 77/1 after 10.
Tewatia to continue and he bowls another economical over of just 5 runs. 82/1 after 11. Unadkat back into the attack, Kohli takes a single off his first, Dev gets a double off his next, takes a cheeky boundary off the next to get to his 50! 3rd 50 in 4 innings for Dev! 2 singles to finish the over. RCB are 91/1 after 12. Riyan Parag in the attack starts with a dot, the next ball Kohli just slaps it over extra cover for a boundary. The next ball Kohli just muscles it over the covers for a maximum! Ohh Kohli is certainly back in form! Class shot that from a class player. 13 runs scored from the over and RCB are 104/1 after 13.
Archer is back in the attack, RR needs a wicket here otherwise RCB will have no pressure and get an easy win. Archer finishes another over just giving away 3 but no wickets. RCB playing it safe. Tewatia back to bowl his last. Dev takes a single, a double the next. Defends the next and then dances down the pitch and hits it out of the park for a maximum over long-on. Takes a single off the next and its 50! for the RCB captain, his first in IPL 2020. Dev takes a single off the last ball. 11 runs from it and RCB are 118/1 after 15.
Archer back to bowl his final and is greeted with a boundary via an aerial cut over backward point. After 2 singles Archer hits the timber! Dev gets out for a well made 63. Full and straight from Archer and Dev misses it. The 99 run partnership comes to an end. Maybe too late? A wicket and just 6 from it. Archer finishes with 1/18. RCB are 124/2 after 16 and they take the Strategic time out. RCB well placed here. Needing just 31 from 24 balls with 8 wickets remaining but in IPL you never know. Final 4 overs coming up.
Gopal is brought into the attack, the senior duo in RCB play risk-free, taking 5 singles and a double off Gopal’s last over. He finishes with 1/27. Tom Curran is back and Kohli targets him straight away with a boundary straight down the ground past the bowler. After 2 singles and a double, Curran bowls a short ball, Kohli pulls it takes a top edge and goes for a boundary. Curran bowls another slower short ball, Kohli takes his time and muscles it for another boundary through backward square leg. 16 runs coming from the over and RCB reach 147/2 after 18. Just 8 needed now.
Unadkat back in the attack gives away 7 runs from it. The scores are level. Tom Curran to complete the formalities, bowls a low full toss and AB just blasts it through mid-on for a boundary. RCB win by 8 wickets! RCB are now at the top of the standings. Good start by Dev, Finch fell shortly after but then Kohli walks in and he had a point to prove after a string off poor scores in last 3 matches and he did it in style. Dev has certainly been RCB’s find of the season. Good overall performance this from RCB.
Awards
Devdutt Padikkal – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
Rahul Tewatia – Altroz super striker of the match.
Mahipal Lomror- Unacademy – Let’s crack it.
Devdutt Paddikal – Cred power player of the match.
Yuzvendra Chahal – Man of the Match.
RCB certainly would be happy with the win and the 2 points. They had a good outing today and coming up top in the Clash of Royals! Dev getting his 3rd 50 in just 4 innings and Kohli is back in form… beware other teams. AB did not have to do much. From the bowling perspective again a good start Sundar bowling his economical spells, Chahal wreaked havoc in the middle with two quick wickets. The death bowling is still an issue for RCB but overall a team performance this from RCB. They now sit at the top of the table with 6 points. For more IPL matches click here.
Watch the Match Highlights of RCB vs RR here-
Stay tuned for Chapter 7 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao.
Vivek Nair
