In this match 11 of IPL 2018, the 5th and the 7th placed team. Both Rajasthan and Bangalore have played 2 matches having one won and lost one. RCB host RR in Bangalore as the team from Bangalore played in green for the environment. Check how Sanju Samson lit Bangalore on this green initiative day.
Preview
Its been an odd start for the team from Rajasthan as against SRH their batsmen didn’t turn up whereas rain saved their blushes at home. Royals will have to earn their victory though the top 4 of RCB can put anyone off guard. For RCB, they would be looking to continue the form they showed in the win against KXIP in the last match. The team would be hoping for the same performance from their bowlers who won them their last match.
Bangalore Goes Green
Due to the slow surface in Bangalore, RCB brought in Pawan Negi for Sarfaraz Khan. Kohli as he usually likes to do. Decides to chase against Rajasthan Royals. RCB was in green today for their green initiative for saving the environment.
Massive From The Royals
Rajasthan’s batsmen definitely came to the match with some fight. Rahane got the team off to a solid start. Even though he was suffering from a pulled muscle, he made sure the team got off to a good start, he scored 36 off 20 balls hitting 6 boundaries and 1 maximum. In at number 3, came Sanju Samson. Short went back to the dugout for just 11 having struggled on this slow pitch. Rajasthan needed their star batsmen to score some runs in the middle and prove his worth. Ben Stokes who showed some good form, went for 27. In came, Buttler who desperately needed some runs to his name. Buttler went for 23 off just 14 balls.
It was Sanju Samson’s match, who spoiled every bowler’s figures as he hit 92 off just 45 balls, hitting 10 maximums and 2 fours. Samson helped the team to the highest total of IPL 2018 so far, 217 at the loss of 4 wickets. Samson also is the new holder of the orange cap.
RCB’s Bowlers Hammered
The bowlers were expected to start better but Rahane took them to the fence. After Rahane’s dismissal right before the end of the powerplay, the bowlers leaked runs continuously. Once Ben Stokes got in, he hit the Bangalore bowlers to the fence. There was no respite after Chahal got the big wicket of Stokes as next batsman was Jos Buttler. RCB’s bowlers were hit out of the park on a regular basis from both ends as Sanju Samson looked to start a few fireworks of his own. Umesh Yadav, the star of RCB’s last match ended up with figures of 0-59 in his 4 bowlers. Only Chahal had a decent economy as he got a couple of wickets, giving away just 22 in his 4 overs. The captain, Kohli was obviously very disappointed with his bowlers.
Bangalore’s Batting
For RCB to chase the target it would be the highest successful run chase in IPL. But if there was any team in IPL to chase this down, it would be RCB. Bangalore started off poorly. McCullum went back to the pavilion for just 4 runs. In came the captain, Bangalore fans would be looking for some fireworks from him. Quinton de Kock and Kohli looked to build a solid partnership before de Kock went for 26 in 19 balls. It was down to Kohli and AB de Villiers to take RCB home. Virat looked in mood as he hit 7 boundaries and 2 sixes before departing for 57 in 30 balls. After the loss of AB, it was up to the youngsters and things looked difficult for the home team. The required run rate was just too much for the home team to cope up with. RCB suffered their second defeat of the season.
Rajasthan’s Bowling
The Rajasthan Bowlers had a massive massive total to defend so their bowlers could relax a little but it was the top 4 of Bangalore that they would want to get quickly. Despite getting the big wicket of Brendon McCullum, de Kock and Kohli didn’t let the bowlers rest. Shreyas Gopal got the two big wickets of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers before things got out of their hands. With the target so big, it was just a matter of time for RR before the RCB’s batsmen gave in to the pressure.
Man Of The Match
Sanju Samson for his blistering innings was awarded the man of the match as he scored 92 off just 45 balls with a strike-rate of over 200. He hit 10 maximums to hit the highest score by a batsman in IPL 2018 so far.
Click here to see how SRH paved their way to a victory.