Twitter Reactions: RCB finds another match winner in KS Bharat in last ball thriller vs DC

Wow! What a way to end the league stage of the IPL 2021! All the eyes were on Mumbai Indians when the final match day began and the five-time champions lived up to the billing to smash 235 runs to give themselves a chance. But it was the last-ball thriller between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals that stole the limelight in the end. KS Bharat was the hero for RCB as he smacked a last-ball six to take his team over the line and also remain unbeaten on 78.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals got off to a brilliant start after Virat Kohli opted to bowl first. Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw started off cautiously before the latter took toll of the opposition bowling. Both complemented each other in a very good partnership of 88 runs. Harshal Patel provided the much-needed breakthrough for RCB dismissing Dhawan for a well made 43.

Shaw also returned to the pavilion soon but not before mesmerizing everyone at the venue with his crisp hitting. He smashed 48 runs off 31 balls with four fours and a couple of sixes. At the fall of Shaw’s wicket, DC’s score was 101 in the 12th over and they looked set to post a mammoth total on the board. But it wasn’t to be. RCB stormed back into the game with some brilliant bowling.

Daniel Christian got the better of dangerous Rishabh Pant and then the bowlers didn’t really let Shreyas Iyer and Shimron Hetmyer off the hook. The 35-run stand between them took 30 balls to be precise. Mohammed Siraj exhibited some excellent death bowling to restrict the Capitals to only 164 runs for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs.

Hetmyer tried his best but could only muster 29 runs off 22 balls while Siraj was the best bowler for RCB with the figures of 2/25 in his four overs.

Maxwell and Bharat lead the way for RCB

With the pitch slowing down considerably as the innings progresses, RCB needed a very good powerplay phase. But it didn’t happen. Anrich Nortje struck early sending both their openers Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli. At 6/2 in the third over, things didn’t look good for them. Rebuilding of the innings meant that they could score only 29 runs in first six overs.

AB de Villiers came out to bat at four to spend some time in the middle and also smacked a couple of fours and a six. However, Axar Patel induced a false shot off him to dismiss the legend for a run-a-ball 26. At the other end, KS Bharat got set and the arrival of Glenn Maxwell just provided the perfect impetus to the innings.

The duo batted beautifully churning out runs at quicker pace. Maxwell started opening up first and also had luck by his side with Iyer and Ravi Ashwin dropping him in a single over. When all the eyes were on the Aussie batter, Bharat upped the ante taking on every DC bowler and also brought up his maiden IPL fifty off 39 balls. His best shot of the innings was a brilliant six off Kagiso Rabada in the 17th over.

From needing 99 runs in last nine overs, the prolific duo brought the equation down to 31 runs off 18 balls. With seven wickets in hand, it should’ve been a cakewalk for RCB. 12 more runs in Avesh Khan’s next over made the job easier. But Nortje was sensational bowling at pace in the penultimate conceding only four runs to leave Avesh with 15 runs to defend in the final over.

Maxwell began the over with seven runs off the first three balls and then Avesh bowled a dot ball to bring the equation down to 8 off 2. A misfield from Axar Patel ensured a couple of runs and RCB were left to get six off the final. One would’ve surely backed Avesh to nail his yorker properly but there was more drama in the offing. The bowling missed his line to deliver a wide.

KS Bharat was then ready to be the hero as Avesh yet again missed his line and Bharat timed the full toss superbly for a huge six to get his team over the line.

Here’s how Twitter reacted: