DC ‘s Dream Run Continues
It has been a dream run for the Delhi Capitals (DC) this IPL season, as they extended their unbeaten run to 4 straight games after humbling Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium last night.
RCB Supporters Arrive In Hordes
It was billed to be a high octane contest between two teams in good form and with a fully packed stadium. With a partisan crowd turning in hordes to support their team RCB, the atmosphere was riveting as Phil Salt and Virat Kohli trudged into the middle to begin proceedings for the hosts.
A Sensational Phil Salt Effort…
Phil Salt was sensational to say the least and batted with both brute power and finesse as he took on the fiery Mitch Starc and plundered him for 30 runs in the 3rd over of the game. RCB were off to a flier. But then arrived the turning point of the match which derailed RCB for the rest of the match.
… Nipped In The Bud
The Royal Challengers had already reached 60 in the 4th over, but an unnecessary run out killed the momentum completely. Phil Salt, going great guns, played an Axar Patel delivery to covers and set out for a single. Kohli did not respond, and Salt found himself in no man’s land. He tried to get back, but slipped and fell short by a mile. The match had turned for good.
RCB Batters Lose Their Way
The pitch with a bit of grip for the spinners turned demonic for the RCB batters, who showed little application. Dev Dutt Padikkal, having a quiet tournament, soon departed, quickly followed by Virat Kohli. The hugely inconsistent Liam Livingstone did not last long either, and when Jitesh Sharma left, RCB were reeling at 102/5 in the 13th over. Patidar played a bit but left trying to force the pace, and in the end, it was left to Tim David, who played a brilliant cameo scoring 37 off 20 balls to help RCB reach 163 in their 20 overs.
Exceptional Bowling Performance From DC
DC ‘s Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav bowled brilliantly. Their lengths were immaculate and gave no freebies to the batters, such was their discipline. They made the ball to grip and bounce which was too much for the RCB batters to counter. With 164 required a win on a canter was there for the taking.
RCB Fight Back…
RCB, through Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal put up a semblance of a fight removing DC openers Fraser McGurk and Faf du Plessis in quick succession and reduced DC to 58/4 when Axar Patel fell for 15. However, a KL Rahul special was about to be unleashed on the helpless DC bowlers.
… But KL Rahul & Stubbs Take Charge For DC
Rahul played one of his finest IPL innings. With the pitch not conducive to extravagant stroke play and with 4 wickets already in the hit, Rahul took complete responsibility of the chase along with Tristan Stubbs who was a good foil for Rahul. The weather too played it’s part.
Rahul Plunders Hazelwood…
As the 15th over was about to begin, a drizzle started and DC were slightly behind the DLS score. With the weather totally unpredictable in Bengaluru, it was important to score quickly and get ahead of the required score. Hazelwood was taken to the cleaners by Rahul scoring 22 runs in the over. All the shots he played were pure class and an exhibition of his sublime talent. That over simply killed the match.
… And DC Win On A Canter
Rahul and Tristan Stubbs then hastened the end with a flurry of boundaries and met the target in the 18th over with Rahul striking a fine 6 to stay unconquered at 93 of just 53 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes. Stubbs too helped himself to a well-made 38 of 23 balls and completed a 111-run partnership with KL Rahul.
Rahul, for his sensational blitzkrieg, won the POTM award. What an innings from him.
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