IPL 9, Match 44: RCB v GL - 5 Talking Points

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) continued to remain alive in the tournament after they registered a mammoth 144 runs victory over Gujarat Lions (GL) at M.Chinnaswamy stadium, Bengaluru. Batting first the RCB side, riding on the blazing centuries from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, posted a massive 249 runs target in front of the Lions to chase. In reply, the Lions surrendered meekly to the opposition and were bundled out for just 104 runs in 18.4 overs. AB de Villiers, for his breathtaking 52 balls 129 runs knock, was adjudged as the Man of the Match.

1. Virat Kohli – AB de Villiers tame the Lions:

It was a Virat-AB de Villiers show at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium as the duo launched a gruesome attack on the Lions bowlers. The pair got together after Gayle’s premature departure in the 4th over and went on to pile on a massive 229 runs stand for the 2nd wicket. It was de Villiers who wore the aggressor’s hat initially while Virat Kohli happily played the second fiddle to the South African. However, as the innings progressed, Kohli also got in the groove and soon both began to rip apart the Lions bowling attack. By the time death overs arrived, de Villiers had cracked his fastest and the 5th fastest century of the IPL. Kohli, who looked bit far from the milestone, batted in the beats mode to race to his third IPL century. The pair could be separated only in the 19th over after Kohli was dismissed by Praveen Kumar off the second last ball. RCB eventually finished at 248/3 at the end of 20 overs

2. Lions’ bowlers face the horror:

The Gujarat Lions bowlers will never forget this day ever. McCullum’s decision to bat first after winning the toss looked like a good decision after Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni bowling tightly in the first four overs. Lions also tasted early success after Kulkarni managed to snap the wicket of the under-performing Chris Gayle. But, unfortunately, the fall of Gayle brought two of the most destructive batsmen at the crease who went on to give the bowler the hammering of their lives. At the end of 4 overs, RCB were 19/1. But, the bowlers soon began to bleed runs uncontrollably. The matter got worse in the final 6 overs of the game where they conceded 126 runs.  The economy rates of each bowler went skyrocketing and none of the bowlers barring Jadeja had an economy of below 11 runs an over. The most expensive was Shivil Kaushik (16.66)

3. Records Galore:

Virat Kohli is the only batsman to score three centuries in an IPL season. The massive total posted by RCB today was the second highest team total in Vivo IPL. The Virat-AB de Villiers show which yielded 229 runs off just 98 balls for the second wicket was the highest ever partnership in the tournament’s history. All the top three highest partnership this season have been made by AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli. AB de Villiers century was his fastest and the 5th fastest in the history of the tournament. He also hit the most number of sixes in an innings (12 sixes).

4. RCB bowlers come to party:

RCB bowlers produced a superb bowling effort to rattle the Lions for just 104 in 18.4 overs. S. Aravind began the proceeding with the wicket of DR. Smith in the 2nd over. The lions hopes fell flat after McCullum was dismissed by Chahal a couple of overs later. Soon, wickets began to fall like nine pins. None of the Lions batsmen except Aaron Finch (27 from 38 balls) could sustain for any considerable time and returned to the pavilion after short stays at the crease. Eventually, the Lions innings folded and inflicted a big 144 runs loss.

5. Kohli averts ban:

Virat Kohli, even after putting on such a show had one thing to worry about – slow-over rate. The RCB skipper was in a tricky situation in the second innings as his bowlers needed to finish the 20 overs inside the stipulated amount of time. The task became easy for Kohli after the Lions faltered completely with the bat which gave the opportunity to him allow the slower part-timers roll their arm to chop down the time consumed. It was amazing to see the skipper himself bowl an over. Chris Gayle and Sachin Baby also bowled. In fact, it was Baby (2/4 in 0.4 overs) who put the full-stop on the Lions innings after he snapped the last two wickets required to win for RCB.

Also, Read – IPL 9, Match 44 Review: Tons from Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers help RCB thrash Lions