Defending champions Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) chances of reaching Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 playoffs are almost over with their seventh loss from 10 games. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ended the losing streak against CSK with a 13-run win, credit to wickets at regular intervals in middle overs and slog overs. While CSK have a very slim chance of making it into the playoffs, RCB have entered the top four with their sixth win from 11 games.
Perfect start
The run chase got off to a start CSK wanted. Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad dominated RCB new-ball bowlers except Josh Hazlewood. After the powerplay overs, Shahbaz Ahmed came back into the attack and got the wicket of Gaikwad. The opener scored 28 runs from 23 deliveries in the 53-run partnership.
Maxwell’s double blow
In the next over, Glenn Maxwell was introduced into the attack and got the wicket of Robin Uthappa before he could play himself in. Maxwell got another wicket of Ambati Rayudu as well to push CSK on the back foot. Rayudu got out for just 10 runs off eight deliveries.
Conway hits fifty
Conway anchored the run chase while wickets fell on the other end. Conway got to his second half-century of the season in the 13th over with a single off Harshal Patel. But Hasaranga got the big wicket by luring Conway into a slog-sweep. The well-timed shot from the Kiwi opener found Shahbaz Ahmed in the deep.
Too many wickets in death overs
With Conway getting out, Moeen Ali needed to break free. The Englishman hit a six off Hasaranga. Former CSK skipper Ravindra Jadeja did not look in form and got out for a single-digit score in the 16th over in an attempt to clear the fence. Hazlewood followed it up with a five-run over to make the equation tougher for CSK.
In the 18th over, Ali hit a six to start off but then played a loose shot to throw his wicket away. He scored 34 runs from 27 deliveries. Skipper MS Dhoni could not do any damage either and got caught in the deep off the first ball of penultimate over bowled by Hazlewood.
In the last over Pretorius and Maheesh Theekshana hit a six each but it was not enough to get over the line. RCB won the match by a comfortable margin of 13 runs. While Hazlewood and Maxwell bowled economically, Patel took three wickets after leaking a few boundaries.
Best start of season
In the first innings, RCB got off to a good start. Skipper Faf du Plessis played the attacking role while Kohli tried to play himself in. In the powerplay overs, the scoreboard read 57/0, their best of the season. Ali broke the partnership with the second delivery of his first over. Du Plessis went for a big shot but found Jadeja in the deep. The former South African skipper departed after scoring 38 runs from 22 deliveries.
Big wickets
In the next over Maxwell was dismissed before he could do any damage. Kohli went for a quick non-existent single and Maxwell was found well short of the crease. The Aussie scored just three runs in the innings. In Ali’s next over, another big wicket fell. Kohli got bowled while trying to play across the line. He scored 30 runs from 33 deliveries.
Lomror justifies promotion
Mahipal Lomror made the most of his promotion up the order. He was joined by Rajat Patidar in the middle at halfway stage. Patidar and Lomror scored quickly and shared a 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Pretorius got the breakthrough in his first over of the innings. Patidar got out after a 15-ball 21 cameo.
Lomror continued to score quickly. The left-handed batter hit a few outrageous shots of Pretorius. But, he missed a deserved half-century.
Theekshana’s brilliant 19th over
Bowling the penultimate over, Theekshana got the wicket of Lomror. He scored 42 runs from 27 deliveries including three fours and a couple of sixes.
Theekshana was exceptional in the 19th over as he got Hasaranga out for a golden duck. He also got the wicket of Shahbaz. The Sri Lankan spinner conceded just two runs and got three wickets in the over.
Karthik finishes big
It was RCB's designated finisher Dinesh Karthik who helped them finish big. After surviving an lbw call on the first ball of the last over, he hit a couple of sixes to get the score to 173/8.
