AS IT HAPPENED: Gulf News readers, experts hold court on easy Bangalore win over Rajasthan in Dubai

Gulf News readers joined the experts to take us through an emphatic seven-wicket win by Royal Challengers Bangalore over Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021 match No. 43 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Full scorecard here

Bangalore canter to a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan

Shyam A. Krishna, Senior Associate Editor

Dubai: A win for the Royal Challengers Bangalore was never in doubt as they coasted to a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (September 29, 2021). Chasing a target of 150, Bangalore were put on course by a 48-run stand by skipper Virat Kohli (25 of 19 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal.

After the openers fell, wicketkeeper K.S. Bharat (44 off 35) and Maxwell (50 not out off 30) ensured there were alarms with a 69-run partnership.

Put to bat, Rajasthan produced another typical performance: a brisk start and a collapse. A 77-run partnership between Evin Lewis (58 off 37 balls) and Yashwasvi Jaiswal (31 off 22) promised a huge total that never came. After Jaiswal fell, captain Sanju Samson (19) added another 23 with Lewis before the rot set in, and Rajasthan finished with 149/9 in 20 overs

Chahal (2-18 ) and Shahbaz Ahmed precipitated the collapse before Harshal Patel grabbed three, including a twin-strike to ensure that Rajasthan didn’t cross 150.

Mid-match summary: Rajasthan waste brisk start as Bangalore strike back

Shyam A. Krishna, Senior Associate Editor

A brisk start and a collapse - it was another typical performance from the Rajasthan Royals as they faced Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday (September 29, 2021). A 77-run partnership between Evin Lewis (58 off 37 balls) and Yashwasvi Jaiswal (31 off 22) promised a huge total that never came, and Rajasthan finished with 149/9 in 20 overs.

Bangalore rode out the initial storm where debutant George Garton repeatedly suffered at the hands of Lewis. After Jaiswal fell, captain Sanju Samson (19) added another 23 with Lewis before the rot set in.

Yuzvendra Chahal (2-18 ) began the slide and two wickets in an over by Shahbaz Ahmed precipitated the collapse. Harshal Patel’s twin-strike ensured that Rajasthan didn’t cross 150.

By Shyam A. Krishna, Senior Associate Editor

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have virtually sealed their play-off spot in IPL 2021. Virat Kohli will want to cement it with full points from the game against Rajasthan Royals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium tonight (September 29, 2021).

Bangalore haven’t been in the best of form in the UAE. They suffered bad losses at the hands of the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Chennai Super Kings. But Kohli and Glen Maxwell ensured there were no alarms against defending champions Mumbai Indians.

Rajasthan’s last four chances are still alive, but they don’t seem to have the game to make the final charge. The batting is heavily reliant on Sanju Samson since Evin Lewis and Liam Livingstone haven’t struck form. Among the bowlers, Chris Morris has grabbed wickets but none of them looked like wreaking havoc.

So, it would be a surprise if Bangalore could not beat Rajasthan in the clash of the royals.