After two disappointing losses in the second phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) register a massive win to end their losing streak in UAE. RCB beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by a huge margin of 54 runs as Harshal Patel took four wickets including season’s first hat-trick to finish off the game early.
Chasing a target of 166, MI were bundled out for 111 as they suffered a batting collapse of epic proportions with only openers registering double-digit scores. This is the first time RCB have bowled out MI in IPL. The loss is a big reason of worry for Rohit Sharma’s side as their net run rate has taken a massive hit and dropped to seventh place on the points table.
Hat-trick man Harshal
The leading wicket-taker of the season crushed any chance of MI staging a late comeback in the 17th over. Patel got the wickets of Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Rahul Chahar to complete his hat-trick. This is the first hat-trick of the season. The pacer also became RCB’s third bowler after Parveen Kumar and Samuel Badree to take a hat-trick.
MI’s middle order collapse
MI’s middle order undid the terrific start to the run chase by the openers. Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Krunal Pandya, Pollard and Hardik registered single-digit scores and scored with a strike rate well below 100. After Rohit Sharma’s wicket, the middle order lost the plot in the run chase and as required run rate kept rising up. They lost nine wickets for 32 runs.
Maxwell’s max performance
Glenn Maxwell turned out to be the top performer for RCB. Maxwell helped his side accelerate in the middle overs with a 37-ball 56 including six fours and three sixes. He shared crucial partnerships with Kohli and AB de Villiers to help his team post a challenging total. Later on, the Aussie worked his magic with the ball as well taking the wickets of a set MI skipper and Krunal. He finished with two wickets for 23 runs in his four overs.
Chahal spins a web
Yuzvendra Chahal showed why leg spinners should not be taken off attack just because left-handed batters in the middle. Chahal got the wickets of Quinton de Kock and Kishan in his first spell. He also got the wicket of Jasprit Bumrah to finish with three wickets for 11 runs from overs including a wicket-maiden
Kohli reaches milestone
Virat Kohli became the first Indian batter to complete 10,000 T20 runs during his 51-run knock. Kohli performed well in the powerplay overs scoring 31 runs out of RCB’s 48. However, on his way to his 50, his strike rate dropped in the middle overs.
