Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) managed to put on 175-8 against Delhi Capitals (DC). DC’s Lungi Ngidi was quite exceptional with his variations & got ample support from the bowling contingent to restrict RCB to a below-par score. RCB’s batters weren’t able to dominate despite the conditions being very favorable for batters.
RCB get off to a brisk start in the powerplay overs
DC asked RCB to bat first on a warm afternoon as the surface was more of a batting paradise than slow. There was good camaraderie between Virat Kohli & Phil Salt, who rotated the strike & kept on smashing an odd boundary. Mukesh Kumar’s ploy of bowling wide off-stump line & length did somewhat irritate Virat Kohli, but in the 4th over, he stepped down the track and played a lofted cover drive shot for a four.
RCB notched up their 50 runs in 5 overs as Phil Salt was doing the bulk of the scoring. Auqib Nabi was hammered in the 5th over for 18 runs by Phil Salt. Lungi Ngidi’s introduction in the 6th over changed the complexion of the match. He deceived Virat (19 in 13) with his tricky off-cutter as a fielder at deep cover. Pathum Nissanka took a catch. RCB, though, had a fruitful power play as they scored 59-1 in 6 overs.
Phil Salt’s brutal onslaught; DC makes a stunning comeback
Phil Salt continued his aggressive brand of cricket. The duo Salt & Devdutt Padikkal made sure that they didn’t play a string of dot balls. Salt reached his half-century in 30 balls, and at the end of 9 overs, RCB’s score was 90-1 & strategic time-out was also taken.
The game drifted in favor of DC after a strategic timeout. Axar Patel’s decision to go around the wicket in the 10th over to Padikkal (18 in 13) cramped him as he played an awkward shot to long on as he found the fielder. Kuldeep Yadav’s slow, wide off-cutter to Phil Salt (63 in 38) enticed him for a monstrous six to long off, but he was deceived. RCB’s score all of a sudden was 105-3 in 10.3 overs.
Tim David wasted no time in unleashing an attack on the DC bowlers. Rajat Patidar (8 in 4) was foxed by Mukesh Kumar in the 13th over, as this time his wide-off stump line & length yielded him results as RCB skipper nicked the ball to keeper KL Rahul. RCB’s score at the end of 15 overs was 146-4 as DC pulled back the things in the middle overs.
DC inflicted a tragic collapse of RCB in the death overs
Axar Patel & Kuleep Yadav operated in tandem. In the 16th over, when Axar was bowling, Tim David (26 in 17) refused a single on the first ball & next ball he miscued the ball to third man & a strategic time out was also taken when the score was 146-5 in 15.2 overs.
RCB need to end innings on a high note as there were high hopes from Krunal Pandya (12 in 10), Jitesh Sharma (14 in 20) & Romario Shepherd (1 in 4). The trio wasn’t able to read pace off variations & were waiting for DC bowlers to bowl in their hitting arc, which hurt them. DC’s bowlers gave away only 29 runs in the last 5 overs and took 4 wickets as they ended up on 175-8. DC’s bowlers hunted in a pack as Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav & Axar Patel took 2 wickets apiece.
Who’s winning, RCB or DC
176 undoubtedly can be said as a below-par target at Bengaluru. RCB’s lower middle order failed as a unit, which can hurt them in this match. DC, though, can’t afford to go overboard. All eyes will be on KL Rahul, whose experience will be invaluable. If DC go unscathed in powerplay overs, then they are sure favorites to win the match. RCB needs Bhuvneshwar Kumar to work his magic with the new ball. DC are the favorites, but RCB have home support, perhaps that won’t work this time.
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