Match 14 of IPL 2018, straight from Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. Mumbai Indians who with their three last ball/wicket defeats will be looking to get something going their way finally host the team from Bangalore. See how Rohit played a captain’s knock and took his team to the first victory for the season.
The Big Match
Two of the most talented players of Indian team will be looking to take their teams to victory. Mumbai Indians who lost to Delhi in the last match on the last ball will be desperate for their first victory. Whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore lost by 19 runs to Rajasthan in the high scoring match. It’s MI who host RCB.
Virat Puts His Team On The Field
Bangalore decided to bowl first. Kohli made 3 changes to his team as Siraj, Corey Anderson and Sarfaraz come in. Mumbai made one change and got Mitchell McClenaghan in the playing eleven.
Rohit’s Masterclass
It was a horrible start from Mumbai as they lost Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan of the first two deliveries. The ball was doing everything, seam, swing, bounce, spin. The pitch had everything. Playing at number 4 it was Rohit Sharma who built a crucial partnership with Evin Lewis who looked in sublime touch.
Lewis hit 6 boundaries and 5 sixes to score 65 off just 42 balls. As Rohit Sharma kept on hitting balls to the fence, Krunal and Pollard found it difficult as they went back to the dugout for low scores. Some controversial decision at the end saw Hardik Pandya hit 17 off 5 balls with 2 sixes. But it was the captain’s knock as he hit 94 off 52 balls with 10 boundaries and 5 maximums, scoring the highest personal score till now in season 11. Mumbai Indians ended up with 213 at the loss of 6 wickets.
RCB’s Bowling
The Bangalore team had a dream start as the scoreboard read 0 for 2 wickets as Umesh Yadav was on hattrick of his very third ball. The pitch had something in it for the bowlers but RCB bowlers were all over the place and Evin Lewis and Rohit Sharma made them look like street bowlers. All the bowlers ended up with an economy of over 9 per over as MI ended the innings on a high, hitting 21 and 15 off the last 2 overs.
Bangalore’s Chase
RCB had a huge target in front of them but RCB’s top 3 had no self-doubts. Quinton de Kock, Virat Kohli and AB hold the key as RCB try to chase this massive target. RCB got off to a flying start before de Kock departed for 19 off 12 balls. AB de Villiers who came in at number 3 ended up giving a catch straight to Hardik Pandya. AB was back to the pavilion on a day when his team needed him the most. It was just one man army as Virat kept the hopes alive for the RCB fans. Wickets kept falling at the other end. Despite Virat’s single-handedly attempt to control the match, RCB fell short of the total making this their third defeat. For scoring most runs in the tournament so far, Virat is the new holder of the Orange Cap.
Mumbai’s Bowling
Mumbai had a lot of runs in the bag to defend. Despite that the bowlers bowled well and in tight areas, giving the RCB batsmen no room to free their arms and get going. Krunal Pandya bowled brilliantly getting 3 wickets giving away just 28 in his 4 overs. McClenaghan also bowled well as he got the wickets of two important South Africans. As the batsmen set a huge total, it was fairly easy for the bowlers to defend as RCB won by 46 runs. Markande is the new holder of the Purple Cap.
Man Of The Match
It was Rohit’s captain’s knock that took his team to the first victory of the competition. Rohit Sharma hit 10 fours and 5 sixes to get to 94 in just 52 balls.
Click here to see KKR earned their second victory of the season.