Hello All,
Welcome to Match 19 – It’s RCB vs DC. The winner of the match will get the top spot back. Both teams coming from a victory. RCB had the near-perfect game against RR in the last match a complete team performance. DC meanwhile coming after some scare from KKR batsman, in the end, winning by 18 runs. Both teams winning 3 of their 4 matches and both having won 1 super-over game. Well, tonight the difference is gonna change. Who will be holding the upper hand and end topping the table let’s find out!
It’s toss time and we see that RCB having won the toss elect to bowl first. Two changes to the RCB line-up from their previous match. Adam Zampa and Gurkeerat miss out while Moeen Ali and Siraj make the team. DC make one force change due to Amit Mishra’s injury and Axar Patel makes the team eleven.
IPL 2020: Match 19- RCB vs DC
Live from- Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Time- 7:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- Nitin Menon, Yeshwant Barde
3rd umpire- Paul Reiffel
Match official- Prakash Bhatt
Teams-
Delhi Capitals (DC): Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan to open the innings for DC. Udana to bowl for RCB. Starts off with two singles then bowls a short ball which Shaw pulls it for a boundary. A dot the next ball and then two back to back boundaries both bowled on the pads sliding down the leg and gets the required treatment from Shaw. 3 boundaries in the first over and it’s 14/0 after 1. Sundar to bowl from the other end and he starts off with a brilliant first over just conceding 3 runs from it. DC are 17/0 after 2.
Saini is brought in as first change. Dhawan greets him with a boundary, a drive through the covers. 3 runs taken off the next ball after being clipped through the legs. Shaw places the next ball but is straight to Kohli at covers and he almost applied saliva too the ball, realizes his mistake at the very end and stops. The next ball hits it over the covers for a maximum, what a shot from Shaw there! A single off the last ball. Another 14-run over for DC. Sundar to continue and bowls another excellent over for just 4 runs. It’s 35/0 after 4 overs.
Chahal is brought into the attack, Dhawan takes a single to long-on. The second ball is placed beautifully through the covers for a boundary by Shaw and a huge six through long-on, some shot this from young Shaw. Takes a single off the next and then Dhawan joins in the party by slog sweeping it for a boundary and 2 to finish off Chahal 1st over, 18 coming from it and with that also the 50 run partnership. It’s 53/0 after 5.
Sundar to bowl the final over of powerplay starts with a dot then Shaw takes 2 two’s off consecutive balls placed at deep backward square leg. Shaw tries for a slog sweep but instead gets a top edge and it flies over AB for another boundary for Shaw. Two singles to finish off the over. 10 from it and DC reach 63/0 after 6. Time out: RCB vs DC- Much needed by RCB to re-access their plans. It’s all DC here. RCB need to break the partnership to get back into the game. All the RCB bowlers except Sundar seem to be at sea.
Siraj is brought into the after the break, starts off with a dot then bowls a hit me ball and Dhawan pulls it for a boundary through square leg. Takes a single off the next. Siraj then bowls a bouncer at Shaw, which he tries to hook but only manages to glove it directly to AB who does not drop those. Finally RCB get the breakthrough, much needed wicket this for RCB. A quickfire innings from Shaw comes to an end. Iyer walks into bat and starts off with a boundary via flick off the pads. A dot to finish the over. 9 runs from it but RCB get the breakthrough they were looking for. It’s 72-1 after 7.
Sundar to bowl his final over just concedes 3 off it. Finishes with 0/20 from his 4 overs. Siraj continues and he bowls an excellent over this time just 3 runs off it and DC reach 78/1 after 9. Udana is brought back into the attack, after singles off the first two ball, Dhawan calls for 2 and makes it, the 4th ball tries to go over long-on but has no timing and the bat twisting making it worse and he hold out in the deep. a simple catch for Moeen at long-on! Another wicket down and RCB are back in it. Pant comes to the crease, Last two balls- Two singles and DC are 85/2 after 10.
Chahal to continue and gives away just 3 singles from it. Moeen Ali is brought into the attack, spin from both ends. Two singles of the first two ball, then Iyer decides to go for a maximum, heaves it towards deep mid wicket and Dev stationed there takes an excellent catch! OMG! Hit with a lot of authority but Dev settles under the ball, jumps to perfection, was going backwards throws the ball back in play, gets into position and catches it. Geez made it look so simple. Another wicket down for DC. In form and Captain Iyer departs. Stoinis is in. Moeen ends the over giving just 6 off it. DC are 94/3 after 12.
Chahal to continue, Stoinis takes a single off the first. Pant then slog sweeps over deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 3 singles to finish the over. DC reach 102/3 after 13. Ali is back, Pant takes a single, a dot and then Stoinis muscles it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum! Two singles and two wides later Stoinis get another boundary to finish the over. 15 from it. DC are 117/3 after 14. They take the strategic timeout: RCB vs DC. RCB have pulled back things after the initial onslaught by DC openers. RCB’s spinners bowling well to keep them in check.
Saini is back in the attack, after a single on the first, Stoinis then hit sit flat and straight into the cow corner for a maximum. A boundary straight down the ground. Saini feeling the pressure bowls a beamer which hits Stoinis right in the middle finger No-ball called. The Magic spray is applied and play continues. Stoinis smokes the free hit for another boundary. Last ball, In the air and Chahal in the deep drops it! Ohh my, how costly would this result. Stoinis in which form he is in looks to get his revenge on his old team from previous season. 17 off it. It’s 134/3 after 15.
Siraj is back in the attack, Stoinis greets him with a boundary drilling it past extra cover for a boundary. Just 5 singles off the next 5 also bringing up the 50-run partnership. between the pair. 143/3 after 16.
Saini back into the attack, starts with a couple, Stoinis then muscles one through deep mid-wicket for a boundary. Stoinis hits it to the deep wants 2, Pant does not respond Stoinis is halfway down the pitch and Kohli does not collect the ball from Dev’s throw and Stoinis survives. Poor fielding this from RCB. Now Pant joins in the party, picks up the slower ball and hits it straight over the bowlers head for a maximum. A boundary the next, Saini is all over the place here, bowls it down the leg and Pant places it for a boundary. Single to finish the over. 18 from it. DC reach 161/3 after 17.
Udana is back to bowl his 3rd. After a wide and 3 singles, Pant mistimes one but that too manages to find the boundary through long-off. 3 singles to end the over. 10 from it. DC are 171/3 after 18. Siraj back and starts off with a beamer which Pant somehow manages a top edge which goes for a maximum. Free hit and Pant tries the reverse sweep and fails to connect. A wide and the Pant chops one back into his stumps, Saini gets his man and his second of the night. Slower ball, Pant early into the shot gets an inside edge to the pads and onto the stumps.
Hetmyer walks into bat, after two dots, takes a single. Siraj on his last ball bowls it full and wide but Stoinis moves across and whips it in front of square for a boundary and he reaches his 50 off just 24 balls. 13 from that over. DC reach 184/4 after 19.
Udana to bowl the final over. Starts off with a single through long-off, Stoinis tries to go big but only manages a leg bye. Hetmyer connects the 3rd ball, which is muscled over to cow corner for a maximum. Two singles and a double to finish off the innings. 12 runs from the over and DC finish on 196/4. DC’s opening pair got them off to a great start, but then RCB pulled things back with some tight overs a 3 quick wickets in the middle. Stoinis after being drop capitalized along with Pant with brutal force. Stoinis even getting to 50 off just 24 balls. A huge run chase for RCB coming right up.
Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch to bat for RCB and Rabada to start for DC. Dev takes a single off the first, a wide down the leg and Rabada drops a simple return catch! Finch gets an early reprieve. Full and straight Finch just chips it straight back to Rabada who can’t hold on to it. A dot and three singles to finish an exciting first over. RCB are 5/0 after 1. Nortje to partner Rabada. Finch thrashes it through the gap between cover and point for a boundary. A wide and a dot ball later, Finch gets a thick outside edge and this time it’s Dhawan who drops it! Ohh my… That should have been taken.
Seems like it’s Finch’s night two reprieves in two overs and they manage to take 2. 3 singles to finish off the over. 10 from it. RCB 15/0 after 2. Ashwin is handed the ball. Finch takes a 2 and a single to get off strike, a dot the next ball and then – A mankad moment but instead Ashwin lets Finch off from a warning as Pointing was against it. Finch survives for a third time, he was way out of the crease and by the time he knew just kept staring at Ashwin maybe in disbelief. (Hard luck Jos Buttler!). After two singles, Ashwin gets his man, Dev goes. The score board pressure gets to him.
Dev tries to go big but is caught at deep mid wicket. Ashwin gets the man in form. RCB 20/1 after 3. Axar Patel in to bowl and Kohli smacks it for a boundary- Through the covers. Some form he is in now especially after the last game against RR. After 3 singles Finch on strike for the last ball, Axar bowls a slow, wide outside off, Finch tries to play it but it spins away to take a outside edge and a good catch by Pant. Finch departs, wasted an opportunity tonight after being dropped twice and avoiding a Mankad. 2 in 2 overs for DC and RCB are rocked back. 27/2 after 4.
AB walks into bat. Harshal Patel is brought in the attack, Kohli flicks it through the leg for a boundary, 9000 runs for Kohli in T20. A dot and three singles later AB chips it just above mid-off for a boundary. 11 from it. RCB are 38/2 after 5. Nortje back to bowl, Kohli takes a single, 2 dots and AB plays it over extra cover for a boundary. Nortje strikes off the next. AB tries the pull but just gets a top edge and Dhawan takes a simple catch at mid-wicket. Big blow this for RCB. DC on top here. It’s 43/3 after 6.
Ashwin to continue, after two singles, Ali tries but does not connect and three dots later he finally connects one that goes for a boundary through deep square leg. RCB are 49/3 after 7. Axar is back in the attack and bowls an economical over giving just 5 from it. RCB are 54/3 after 8. Ashwin is back and bowls another economical over just 7 from it. After 9, RCB reaches 61/3. Time for the strategic timeout between RCB vs DC. Not a great start for a 190+ chase, RCB would like for the Chase master and Ali to take the game deep in RCB have any chance to get the target. DC would like to get Kohli early.
Axar is back and he bowls another tight over this time just 2 singles. He surely is choking the runs and creating pressure. Patel is back and bowls an economical over this time keeping up the pressure and RCB are 70/3 after 11. Axar to bowl his final over, gives 5 singles off 5 balls and then gets the wicket of Ali in the last ball. Ali steps out and hits it to the longer part of the boundary and is straight to the hands of awaiting Hetmyer. RCB are 75/4 after 12 and Axar finishes with 2/18.
Sundar joins Kohli in the middle. Patel to continue, starts off with a wide. Kohli steps out and hits it straight over long on for a maximum. A double and single later, Sundar joins in by a placing it over the covers for a boundary. Two singles to finish the over. 16 from it. RCB get a move on finally and its 91/4 after 13. Rabada is brought in, starts off with a wide. 2 singles later, he gets the Chase Master- Kohli gone! Big wicket this for DC. Kohli feeling the pressure tries a pull but only manages a thin inside edge and just reaches Pant. Is that the game for DC?
Dube walks in to bat, Rabada keeps it tight, just 6 from it. RCB are 97/5 after 14. Ashwin to continue, just gives 2 single but the last ball Dube finally connects one and it goes for a maximum over long-on. Rabada is back and Sundar uppercuts for a boundary to start with. A dot and then he hits it straight over the bowlers head for another boundary. 2 singles and then Rabada gets the better of Sundar. He goes for a pull, no connection there and straight to Ashwin at mid-wicket. RCB keep crumbling. 115/6 after 16.
Time for the Strategic timeout: RCB vs DC. RCB need a miracle if they are gonna win this. 82 needed from 24 balls. Nortje to continue, Udana walks in to bat. Nortje bowls another fiery over just 3 from it. Rabada continues and he gets Dube off his first. Full and straight, Dube misses and Rabada hits. Some confusion here, the umpires check for the number of fielders in the circle. Ashwin just manages to get himself inside the circle and the wicket stays otherwise it would have been called a no-ball. Rabada on a hattrick.
Saini walks in and Rabada dishes Saini with his own medicine, Good bouncer and Saini somehow gloves it for a single. Then it’s Udana’s turn to go back. Slices it but not enough power and Iyer takes a simple catch. Rabada gets his 4th off the inning with 3 coming from his last 4 balls. What a match-winner this! Brought in to get Kohli and gets the job done and wrecks havoc to RCB’s middle-lower order. RCB are 121/8 after 18. Rabada finishes with 4/24 from 4.
Siraj walks in to bat, Nortje to bowl his last, After two singles, Siraj makes room and somehow manages to place the ball through backward point for a boundary. Last ball Siraj tries it again, but Nortje keeps it full and straight and sounds of Timber being rattled is heard. 9 down now RCB. Patel to bowl the final over, just for formalities with RCB needing 70 to win. Patel is taken for 11 runs, but it does not matter. DC win by 59 runs.
Well with 197 to chase, RCB wanted a good start but the score board pressure again accounted for young Dev’s wicket, similar to one observed against Punjab. Finch got 3 chances but could not capitalize. RCB needed the Kohli-AB duo to get going, but AB could not last tonight, the score board pressure and wickets going down the other end made Kohli play a rash shot and as soon he was dismissed were any chance of RCB winning. Rabada for the strike again. 4 wickets in a T-20 game is no ordinary feat. He got Kohli and then removed the rest of RCB’s lower middle. Easy win for DC in the end.
RCB would have loved a better chase, but the bowlers also let them down again in the death overs. Droppings catches did not help matters. Stoinis gets the better of RCB after they let him go. RCB need to regroup. Hopefully Morris is fit again and bring change in fortune for RCB’s death bowling in what they have big on Morris at the auction. For more IPL matches click here.
Awards- Match 19: RCB vs DC
Kagiso Rabada – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
Marcus Stoinis – Altroz super striker of the match.
Marcus Stoinis- Unacademy – Let’s crack it.
Prithvi Shaw – Cred power player of the match.
Axar Patel – Man of the Match.
Watch the Match Highlights of RCB vs DC here-
Stay tuned for Chapter 8 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao.
Vivek Nair
