Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would be delighted to restrict Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a kind of paltry 146 runs. RCB’s bowling contingent Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood & Rasikh Salam Dar hunted in a pack & never allowed LSG to get off to a flyer.
Josh Hazlewood & Bhuvneshwar Kumar restrict LSG in powerplay overs
LSG was put in to bat first by RCB. Josh Hazlewood was back in playing 11 in place of Jacob Duffy, as RCB can be said to be managing Hazlewood’s workload very smartly. Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Josh Hazlewood didn’t give that much extra width to either Aiden Markram & Mitchell Marsh, as we can say there was a typical Test match bowling from both ends. At the end of 3 overs, LSG’s score was 22-0.
Rasikh Salam Dar’s introduction in the 4th over immediately proved to be fruitful; on the last ball of the over, the speedster used pace off variation as Markram (12 in 8) couldn’t read and a top edge & fielder at cover took an easy catch. Rishabh Pant’s all-out attacking approach hurt him as he got hit on his elbow & had to head back to the dugout after playing only 4 balls. LSG managed to score 35-1 in 6 overs.
RCB dent LSG in the middle overs
The decision to give Hazlewood 3rd back-to-back paid off well for RCB as he castled the stumps of Nicholas Pooran, who was cramped for room. Pooran’s struggles continued as he scored 1 run in 7 balls. Mitchell Marsh was fighting from the other end; there were some lusty blows being smashed to Krunal Pandya as the surface was a bit on the slower end. LSG’s score was 63-2 in 9 overs as a strategic time-out was taken.
Krunal Pandya in the 10th over had the last laugh over Marsh, whose wide arm angle surprised him & Marsh dragged the delivery on the stumps. Marsh was looking threatening as he scored 40 runs in 32 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes). RCB’s score was 71-3 in 9.5 overs. Ayush Badoni & Mukul Choudhary gave some hope for LSG, who put the team back on track as LSG’s score was 112-4 in 15 overs when a strategic time-out was taken.
Rasikh Salam Dar & Bhuvneshwar Kumar annihilate LSG in death overs
Rasikh Salam Dar’s slower delivery again deceived LSG batter & this time it was Ayush Badoni (38 in 24, smashing 4 fours and 1 six), as a wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma took a catch. The promising partnership between Badoni & Mukul of 35 runs in 27 balls was broken. Rishabh Pant came into bat after the dismissal of Badoni (15.5 overs), but he was struggling to make an impact.
In the 17th over, Bhuvnehswar foxed Rishabh as he couldn’t clear a low full toss; LSG kept on losing wickets in critical junctions. Mukul Choudhary had got his eye in as the onus was on him. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, in the 19th over, grabbed two back-to-back wickets as straight line & lengths were giving results. In the 20th over, Rasikh bowled out LSG for 146 runs with 2 more wickets to his name. Rasikh took 4 wickets for 24 runs and used variations astutely.
Who’s winning RCB or LSG
147 is a below-par score, we can say, RCB are red-hot favorites to win the match. All eyes will be on Virat Kohli to see off the new ball and play the role of anchor. LSG, on the other hand, needs to bundle out RCB to win the match as the equation is quite simple, as the game can get even over in powerplay overs if RCB gets 50-70 runs. Shami needs to work his magic at the start, else it could be a huge defeat for the visitors.
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