‘The best bowling attack’: Fans go crazy as Rajasthan beat Bangalore in a crushing win
Yuzvendra Chahal-Dinesh Karthik (image source : BCCI/IPL)
Bangalore faced off against Rajasthan in the 39th match of the Indian T20 League 2022 at the MCA Stadium in Pune. The pitch at the Pune stadium was a sporting one and it provided a decent bit of help for the bowlers as the fans enjoyed an even competition between the bat and the ball.
Bangalore won the toss and decided to field first in the match. They started their bowling effort on a good note dismissing Devdutt Padikkal (8 off 9) early in the innings. The men in pink persisted with their strategy of using Ravichandran Ashwin as their number three batter. Ashwin and Buttler stitched a small partnership of 22 runs before the two were dismissed off successive balls. Bangalore was well aware of the fact that Buttler can change the complexion of the match single-handedly. His wicket in the fifth over of the innings was thus a huge morale boost to the bowlers of the men in red and black. After two successive centuries in the last two matches, Buttler failed to fire big in this match scoring just eight runs off nine deliveries.
After Buttler’s dismissal, Rajasthan’s batting looked to have lost its way. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and the batters failed to put on a formidable partnership. Riyan Parag was the only player who put up a resistance against the bowlers and scored an unbeaten 56 off 31 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. Besides Parag, Sanju Samson (27 off 21) and Daryll Mitchell (16 off 24) got starts in the middle order but could not convert it into something substantial. On the back of these batting performances, Rajasthan was able to put up a total of 144 runs in their 20 overs for the loss of eight wickets. Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood and Wanindu Hasaranga picked up two wickets each for Bangalore.
While chasing a moderate total, Bangalore put themselves in trouble losing wickets early. The batting woes for Virat Kohli continued as he was dismissed in the second over of the innings for just nine runs off 10 balls. While they would have hoped for a steady start, sending Kohli to open, they were shaky, to say the least. The big three in Du Plessis (23 off 21), Kohli, and Glenn Maxwell (0 of 1) were back in the hut by the seventh over of the innings. Bangalore was down to 37 for three at this stage and was hoping for the likes of Suyash Prabhudessai, Shabaz Ahmed, and mostly Dinesh Karthik to take them home from there.
But in the 13th over of the match, Bangalore’s biggest match-winner of the season, Dinesh Karthik ( 6 of 4) became the victim of a terrible mix-up and was run out. With the likes of Ahmed, Hasranaga and only their bowlers left to bat hopes were dim for the men in red and black. At the end of the 15th over Bangalore found themselves at 90 for six wickets down needing 55 runs of the last five overs. The Rajasthan bowlers tightened their grip on the lower order batters of Bangalore and slowly pocketed the match. Bangalore was ultimately dismissed for 115 runs in the 20th over. The total of 144 runs defended by Rajasthan is the lowest total defended in this edition of ITL. Rajasthan won their sixth match of the campaign by 29 runs, while Bangalore faced their fourth defeat of the tournament.
Here is how Twitter reacted.
https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1518978713618386947?s=20&t=X7xUk3aD5oPCJREyxH0GWg
https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1518980151237017600?s=20&t=X7xUk3aD5oPCJREyxH0GWg
Big mix-up!! And DK is run out.
Crucial wicket for the fielding side, Chahal fumbled while picking up the throw, but he managed to grab the ball and break the bails. #RCB: 72/6 (13)#RCBvRR #IPL2022
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 26, 2022
The fans crawling their way out of the stadium after DK's dismissal… Such has been his effect in this year IPL.. He has been the savior for RCB in crunch situations.. RR bowling is too good… #IPL2022 #RCBvRR
— Aviral Rai (@cric_fan23) April 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/suryatl/status/1519006063911006214?s=20&t=X7xUk3aD5oPCJREyxH0GWg
https://twitter.com/imaishu_/status/1519000174718201856?s=20&t=X7xUk3aD5oPCJREyxH0GWg
Well done RCB for botteling this..honestly this team does not deserve playoff spot..poor cricket..poor game awareness!! #RCBvRR #RRvRCB
— Virat (@Virat0000018) April 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/ImRahulSharma3/status/1519008709409742854?s=20&t=X7xUk3aD5oPCJREyxH0GWg
While @prasidh43 continues to shine, it’s Kuldeep from Rewa who must’ve been delighted to get Maxwell and overall also had huge impact. @rajasthanroyals management must be loving this. #RCBvsRR #IPL2022
— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) April 26, 2022
All over for #RCB
Lowest total defended in #IPL2022 as #RR bundle out the opposition for 115 runs.
Harshal Patel the last man dismissed, out caught at long-on.
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 26, 2022
28% felt #RCB would get bowled out under 120. Well you guys were right #RCBvsRR https://t.co/sE5Ac7As2S
— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) April 26, 2022
Table toppers, Orange cap, purple cap and the domination continues by Rajasthan Royals. #IPL2022
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 26, 2022
