Dubai: Royal Challengers Bangalore had the last laugh when they pipped champions Mumbai Indians in the Super Over in their much-hyped IPL clash at the Dubai International Sadium on Monday. Skipper Virat Kohli hit the winning runs for Bangalore as they returned to winning ways after a humiliating loss to Kings XI Punjab.
Choosing to have a bowl, the champions failed to contain RCB from piling up their first 200-plus total this season as they scored 201 for three wickets. Opener Devdutt Padikkal came up with his second sparkling half-century (54) while Aaron Finch (52) and AB de Villiers (55 not out) boosted the innings.
Losing skipper Rohit Sharma cheaply to Washington Sundar, the champions kept on losing wickets as regular intervals and were 78 for four at one stage. Young Ishan Kishan (99) and big man Kieron Pollard (60 not out) gave a stellar display of counter attack by putting together a 119-run partnership for the fifth wicket. They, however, just failed to take Mumbai over line and ended at 201-5 – which tied the game.
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INTERVAL
Royal Challengers Bangalore produced their best batting performance in IPL 2020, and the result was a score of 201 for three in 20 overs. Except for skipper Virat Kohli, all the RCB batsmen weighed in.
Aaron Finch (52 in 35 balls) launched the RCB innings with a blistering array of strokes in the company of Devdutt Padikkal, adding 81 of 9 overs for the first wicket. After Kohli’s early departure, Padikkal and AB de Villiers (55 in 24 balls) upped the tempo. And later Shivam Dube (27 off 10 balls) tore into the Mumbai attack, which looked listless. Only the spinners could contain the scoring.
Much now depends on the RCB attack. Mumbai has the batting to chase down the target, but the wicket is reported to be getting sticky and the ball may come off slowly. That may not be good for strokeplay. So long as Mumbai don’t lose early wickets, a chase is on.
