IPL 2018: Match 11, RCB vs RR, Review - Rajasthan humble the hosts in a Royal rumble

Rajasthan Royals (RR) have defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 19 runs in a high-scoring encounter at Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was a special innings from Sanju Samson whose knock helped the visitors post the highest total of the season so far and then their bowlers just made it impossible for the hosts to gun it down. Though it was Virat Kohli who made it look so easy while he as there during his magicsl 57-run innings. However, RCB simply didn’t deserve to win on the day courtesy their lacklustre bowling which leaked so many runs.

RCB won the toss and opted to field first as they included Pawan Negi in the playing XI at the expense of the underperforming Sarfaraz Khan. The visitors, however, fielded the same side which defeated Delhi Daredevils in the rain-marred game back home. The Chinnaswamy Stadium was buzzing with all the people wearing green jerseys as their favourite team was supporting the ‘Go Green Initiative’ on the day.

Rahane gives the perfect start

Ajinkya Rahane and D’Arcy Short strode out to the middle with an aim to give the team a quick-fire start and most importantly avoid getting run-out with proper calling. The former generally plays second fiddle but Rahane played a captain’s knock today as he attacked the opposition bowlers with disdain. While he shuffled across his crease time and again, all his shots were absolutely from the text book. But his knock was cut short before the powerplay ended only to bring Sanju Samson in at number 3 for the Royals.

Samson special on the way

By the end of the 10th over, the score of RR side was around 70 and they would’ve hoped to get over 160 to put pressure on RCB. But the way Samson unleashed his shots were magnificent. He has been in superb touch ever since the tournament has begun but he looked special today. All his big shots were through the leg side as he effortlessly hit the ball in the air only to sail it in the stands comfortably. There were no mishits whatsoever as the innings could be termed as ‘class personified’.

Samson dealt only with sixes until the 19th over when he smashed his first four. The best shot of the knock was the way he smashed Kulwant Khejroliya over long-on by making room for himself to a full ball around middle and leg stump. The youngster whacked as many as 10 sixes in his sixes and only 2 fours as he remained unbeaten on 92 off just 45 balls. He got able partners in Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Rahul Tripathi at the other end who played brief cameos to keep the run-rate constantly on the higher side.

Eventually, RR posted a hefty total of 217 runs on the board courtesy the forgettable last over by Umesh Yadav which yielded them 27 runs. The no-balls and wides bowled during the innings also didn’t help the cause of RCB as they had to bring out their ‘A’ game in the batting to chase down one of the highest totals in the history of the tournament.

Kohli takes the lead

RR came out with a plan and handed the ball to Krishnappa Gowtham in the very first over as Brendon McCullum pulled the fourth ball of the over to deep mid-wicket which brought Virat Kohli to the middle. He blazed away almost within a blink of an eye and started playing his shots. At one point it felt like the ‘Kohli of 2016’ was at the Chinnaswamy the way he was manipulating the field with some classy whips thanks to his wristwork. His partnership with Quinton de Kock was a good one but Short scalped the left-hander again with a short delivery.

The wicket brought the in-form AB de Villers to the crease to instil fear in the minds of the bowlers. But the visiting bowlers had come prepared as they bowled perfect line and lengths to keep them quiet. However, Kohli looked unstoppable until then as he was undone by a brilliance from Short after he had slapped a short ball from Shreyas Gopal to deep mid-wicket as the fielder timed his jump perfectly. While he was there, the chase looked possible as the wheels came off very soon RCB with the wicket of De Villiers also falling quickly.

Exceptional RR bowlers

Royals bowling attack was up for the task on the day as they never allowed RCB to come back in the game. Despite all the hitting from the ‘magnificent’ Kohli they were way ahead and his wicket dented all the confidence in the hosts’ line-up as it usually happens. The match was over after De Villiers fell as the other batsmen just did the job of playing out 20 overs as it was simply tough to get away with the likes of Jaydev Unadkat and Ben Laughlin who are masters of bowling their variations at the death.

Despite some intelligent batting from Washington Sundar and Mandeep Singh, RCB eventually fell short of the target by 21 runs as Yadav’s last over made the difference in the end.

Brief Scores

Rajasthan Royals 217/4 after 20 overs (S Samson 92*, A Rahane 36; Y Chahal 2/22)

Royal Challengers Bangalore 198/6 after 20 overs (V Kohli 57, M Singh 47*; S Gopal 2/22)

Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 19 runs

Man of the Match: Sanju Samson