Hello All,
Welcome to RCB’s second game, Match 6 of IPL 2020. It’s RCB taking on KXIP or should we say an ex-RCB team ( 😛 ). RCB are high in spirits after their win against SRH in their opening game meanwhile, KXIP would be furious with themselves for not being able to close out the game after needing just 1 to win with 3 balls remaining against DC. Also the shocking news of Prof. Dean Jones untimely death – Due to a heart attack, he covered the game until the very end. Players are observed wearing a black band today for his remembrance.
Meanwhile, it’s toss time, RCB wins the toss and elects to bowl first. No changes in the team for RCB. Punjab meanwhile makes two changes with Jordan and Gowtham replaced with Neesham and Ashwin.
https://www.iplt20.com/video/208209/m06-kxip-vs-rcb-toss
IPL 2020: Match 6. KXIP vs RCB
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- Paul Reiffel, Anil Chaudhary
3rd umpire- Nitin Menon
Match official- Javagal Srinath.
Teams-
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP): Lokesh Rahul (c, wk), Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Sarfaraz Khan, James Neesham, Mohammed Shami, Murugan Ashwin, Sheldon Cottrell, Ravi Bishnoi.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Shivam Dube, Josh Philippe(wk), Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav, Dale Steyn, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Rahul and Agarwal to open the batting and Umesh to open the bowling. Umesh starts off with a beautiful outswinger, spoils the over by bowling the last ball on the pads and Rahul just clips it for a boundary. It’s 8/0 after the 1st over. Steyn to partner Umesh from the other end. Starts off with an outswinger and Agarwal tucks it to third-man for a single. Few balls later Rahul has started to show his class but hitting Steyn for back to back boundaries through backward point! Pure Class. 9 runs from the over and it’s 17/0 after 2.
Umesh back into attack and Agarwal continues his form by coming down the track and hitting inside-out for a boundary, after few good balls another one on the pads and Agarwal accepts it hitting another boundary. Another 9-run over. Saini is brought in as first change, starts off with a peach of a delivery. Bowls a poor ball and is dispatched with authority from Rahul. 7 from the over. Steyn back to bowl the 5th over, After 2 singles, he bowls a bouncer and with the form Agarwal is in, picks it up early and pulls its again for another boundary! 8 runs from the over.
Saini back to bowl the last over of the powerplay, Starts off with a couple of wides and a bouncer at almost 148kmph! A feel-good moment for all Indian fans. The next ball, bowl a full toss and Mayank will not miss these and creams it for a boundary. 9 runs from the over and Punjab have raced to 50 runs in the powerplay. Good start for Punjab, RCB in need of a breakthrough.
Chahal into the attack, After 2 singles, Rahul has swept it for a boundary, takes a single and then finally- a wicket for RCB. Chahal bowls a googly, Agarwal has no clue, does not pick it and is cleaned up through the gap between bat and pad. Big wicket this, Agarwal was in fine form. It’s 57-1 after 7. Sundar to bowl from the other end, Rahul cuts the first ball, poor fielding from Steyn at short-third and a boundary to start. 4 singles to finish the over. Chahal continues and gives just 5 from it. 70-1 after 9 and time for a strategic timeout.
Umesh is back, starts off with a wide, Pooran drives the next for a boundary, takes a single. No-ball! for waist-high, and 2 runs also taken, poor ball this the free hit is taken to the cleaners from Rahul. Umesh bowls the next down the leg and another boundary… Poor bowling this from Umesh, 20 runs coming from the over. It’s 90-1 after 10. Chahal and Sundar bowl in tandem and give 5 runs each. Punjab reach their 100 in the 12th over and Rahul his 50!
Saini is back into the attack, start off with 4 ley-byes. On the 5th ball, Saini bowls a bouncer, Rahul plays the hook but is nowhere near is hurried by the pace but fortunately for him gets a top edge over the keepers head for a boundary. The last ball Saini bowls it full and Rahul just lofts it over the covers for a boundary. Another expensive over for RCB 14 from it. Dube is brought into the attack and gets Pooran off his first ball! Good short from Pooran but it lands straight in the Hands of Mr. 360! ABD! Good breakthrough for RCB especially after 44 runs was conceded in last 4. Maxwell is in. Just 4 singles in that over.
It’s 118-2 after 14 and Punjab have taken the strategic time out. Time to do the thinking. Punjab would like to score atleast 60 from the last 6 to get a score of 180, meanwhile RCB would be looking to reduce them quick wickets, Final 6 overs coming right up.
Chahal to bowl his last bowls a good spell especially with his history against Maxwell. Ends with 1/25 from his 4 overs. Dube is back to bowl his second. Maxwell takes 2 on the first, the next ball is caught by Finch! Ohh Dubey – Man with the golden arm! Bangs it in short and a slower one, Maxwell makes room, hits a flat batted shot but it’s straight to Finch at covers. Karun Nair in, Just 6 runs from the over and a big wicket of Maxwell! It’s 132-3 after 16 overs.
Steyn back to bowl, bowls 4 beautiful deliveries then bowls a wide and Rahul predicts his next ball and dispatches it for a maximum. The next ball is a low full-toss, Rahul connects but not that well on the longer boundary side and it’s Kohli who drops it!!! Well well well, is that the turning point of the match! Saini is back, starts with a dot, a single off the second then Nair neatly places the third for a boundary, a single and then Rahul places the next perfectly for a boundary and then would you believe it Kohli drops Rahul again! Ohh the agony! Slower ball, Rahul hits it but now power staright to Kohli but he drops it again!!!
It’s not been Kohli’s night with the fielding today dropping not 1 but 2 catches of Rahul. How badly would that hurt RCB is yet to be seen. 157/3 after 18. Steyn back and is greeted by a maximum from Rahul. The next ball goes for a boundary and Rahul has reached his 100! What a fine innings, a great knock by the captain! The next 3 balls read 6,6,4! Ohh what a player and some luck when u need it! Steyn just got thrashed. 26 runs from that over and it’s 189/3 after 19.
Well Dube has been brought back to bowl the final over, starts with a double taken, then Nair joins in the party with a perfectly placed boundary with a pull, takes a single and gives strike to Rahul. Can Rahul get the best of the last 3 balls- Oh yes he can – reading 4, 6, 6! Starts with a boundary through the covers then a maximum to long on reaching the 1st tier and the final 6, straight over the bowlers head. Rahul just continuing his form and displaying his class and authority! At innings end it’s 206/3.
So the Carnage finally ends for the RCB bowlers, not to take away anything from Rahul’s innings but that two dropped catches from Kohli cost them dearly. At 132/3 after 16 and ending with 206/3 after 20… 74 runs leaked from last 4 overs. Rahul taking full advantage off the opportunity provided and ends up with his highest score, the highest score by a captain in IPL and also highest score by an Indian in IPL history! RCB have a strong batting line up and can Kohli make up for his dropped catches with his batting, certainly would need him if RCB are to chase down the total.
Devdutt Padikkal and Finch are at the crease for RCB. Cottrell will open the attack for KXIP. Dev takes a single off the first ball, Finch takes a single off the third. The fourth ball and it’s a wicket for KXIP. Dev goes after Cottrell but the pull only manages a top edge and straight to the man at mid-on. The scoreboard pressure shot and RCB are one down. Surprise, we have Philippe at the crease. After the end of 1st, it’s 2-1.
Shami to partner Cottrell, starts off with beauty, Finch takes a single the next ball and then this time its Philippe who has to depart for a duck! Plumb LBW. Kohli walks in and takes a single straight away. After the end of 2 overs its 4/2 RCB. Cottrell back into the attack, after 3 dots, this time he gets the King- Kohli is gone! Short, angling away from Kohli, he tries to pull but gets a thick outside edge and straight to Bishnoi at mid-on! ABD is in. RCB need a partnership if they have to chase down this total. 5/3 after 3.
Shami back, starts well and then gifts a full toss which Finch kindly accepts. 1st boundary coming in the 4th over for a 200+ chase. RCB need more of these. 6 from the over and it’s 11/3 after 4. Cottrell back, ABD greets him with a 6 over long on, the next ball gives some room and smokes it over the covers for a boundary. AB getting a move and RCB need more of these. 14 runs from the over. 25/3 after 5.
Bishnoi is introduced into the attack, start off with a wide, the next ball Finch pulls it for a perfectly placed boundary. He then bowls another wide and then AB pulls a short ball for a boundary and then the next for a late cut for a boundary. AB is in some form here. 15 runs from that over and it’s 40/3 after 6 overs. Ashwin into the attack, he is greeted by a boundary by finch and 4 singles. 8 runs coming from that over.
Bishnoi back to bowl his second, after 5 runs off his 4 balls he gets Finch all cleaned up! Finch trying to place the ball but is all squared up from Bishnoi and loses his off stump. The partnership was looking good for RCB but Bishnoi had other plans! Sundar walks into bat. It’s 53/4 after 8 overs. Ashwin back to bowl and AB greets him with a boundary over covers. The next ball Ashwin bowls a googly and AB hits it straight to Sarfaraz who was stationed there. Well is that the game for RCB! Half the team back into the hut. It’s 57/5 and a strategic time out has been taken.
This is the last pair for RCB, certainly the match is heavily titled in Punjab’s favor until these youngsters have something special under their sleeves. A great platform for them to learn meanwhile Punjab would be looking for a huge win. Ashwin completes his over and its 60/5 after 9. Neesham is handed the ball and he just gives away 3 singles that over. Shami back into the attack and Sunder pulls the ball for a boundary. Just 3 singles of the remaining 5 balls. Neesham back, starts off with a wide, then Dube pulls one for a maximum over mid wicket. 10 from the over. 80/5 after 12 RCB.
Maxwell is brought into attack, just 3 singles so Dubey tries for a big one but instead just gets an side edge and his stumps are shattered even Maxwell is now amongst the wickets. 83/6 after 13. Umesh comes to crease, Bishnoi returns into the attack, Just 5 runs from the over, Umesh tries to slog one out of the park, misses it and the bowler hits! RCB just throwing away their wickets. 88/7 after 14. Maxwell is back, Sundar greets him with a boundary the rest of the over goes uneventful. 7 from it. 95/7 after 15 overs.
Bishnoi back into the attack, bowls a google and Sundar read it perfectly and dispatches it for a maximum.RCB finally cross the 100-run mark. The next ball floats one up, Sundar is tempted and goes for it again, but does not time it well and it lands in the hands of Agarwal at long on. Steyn into bat and Bishnoi finishes his spell reading- 3/32.
Ashwin is back to bowl, the first ball is played inside out for a boundary by Saini and he gets bowled the next ball not being able to read the googly. Chahal the last man in. After 2 singles, Chahal tries to sweep one but is caught plumb as he misses it and a simple call for the umpire. So it’s all over for RCB being all out for just 109. Ashwin finishes with 3/21 from 3. Punjab win by 97 runs! A massive win this. RCB will get a big hit in their net run rate and Punjab a huge boost.
Well what a disappointing end. RCB just could not handle the blitz from Rahul in the end of their innings. Punjab took that confidence in and came out all guns firing. Cottrell getting 2 in 2 overs that of the in form Dev and the King in his next to break RCB’s backbone. Ashwin and Bishnoi with their bowling spun a web and they could not just get going. In the end they could not even manage to bat the entire 20 overs and lost the match by 97 runs!
Awards-
K.L. Rahul – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
K.L. Rahul- Altroz super striker of the match.
K.L. Rahul – Unacademy – Let’s crack it- For max 6’s.
Sheldon Cottrell- Cred power player of the match.
K.L. Rahul- Man of the Match.
That brings us to the end of Chapter 4. KXIP has a great day in all the departments and RCB meanwhile would have to reconsider some of their team selection. RCB just doing RCB things. Hoping for better performance form RCB in the next game. Previous Chapters could be found here.
Watch the Match Highlights here-
https://www.iplt20.com/video/208530/m06-kxip-vs-rcb-match-highlights
Stay tuned for Chapter 5 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao!
Vivek Nair
