IPL 2021, RCB vs MI: Harshal Patel's hat-trick floors Mumbai as Bangalore trumps by 54 runs

Royal Challengers Bangalore gave an excellent performance to outplay Mumbai Indians by 54 runs in the IPL 2021 clash in Dubai. As a result, RCB is now up to third, while MI falls to seventh.

It was an imposing performance from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as it subjugated defending champion Mumbai Indians (MI) by an extensive margin of 54 runs in Match 39 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Pacer Harshal Patel produced a defining performance to claim a hat-trick, as RCB remains in solid contention for the playoffs.

Winning the toss, MI skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bowl as he made a change, bringing in all-rounder Hardik Pandya. As for RCB, Virat Kohli, too, made three changes.

Although RCB was off to a shaky start, losing Devdutt Padikkal for an unfortunate duck to pacer Jsprit Bumrah in the second over, with just seven runs on the board, the pair of Kohli (51) and Srikar Bharat (32) capitalised with a 68-run stand. It was in the ninth over when spinner Rahul Chahar dismissed the latter.

Nevertheless, it hardly slowed RCB down, as in came Glenn Maxwell (56), and along with Kohli, he went all guns blazing. Kohli scored his 42nd IPL half-century during this time before falling to pacer Adam Milne in the 16th, at 126.

Nonetheless, it hardly made a difference, as a 35-run stand ensued between Maxwell and AB de Villiers (11) while the former scored his ninth IPL half-century in the meantime. At 161, Bumrah got rid of both in 19th, while a run later, Boult dismissed Shahbaz (1), as RCB managed 165/6. In contrast, MI put five bowlers into the attack, with Bumrah attaining the most success and had the best economy.

As MI came out for the chase, it was an explosive start from the openers, as Rohit (43) and Quinton de Kock (24) contributed to a 57-run opening stand before the latter was dismissed by leg-spinner Youzvendra Chahal in the seventh over. The former too departed 12 runs later to spinner Maxwell in the tenth.

It was thereon that the downfall for MI began, with none of the incoming batsmen moving into double figures. Furthermore, in the 17th over, Harshal created havoc, getting rid of Hardik Pandya (3), Kieron Pollard (7) and Rahul Chahar (0) in constant deliveries to complete his hat-trick.

MI was done thereon, as Chahal got rid of Bumrah (5) in the 18th, while in the 19th, Harshal uprooted Milne (0) to finish a brilliant spell for him, as MI was shot out for 11. It handed a massive 54-run win to RCB, rising to the third spot, while MI slips to seventh.

RCB utilised six bowlers, with Harshal having a great time with a four-for. However, it was Chahal who nailed it with his majestic economy.
Brief scores: RCB 165/5 (Kohli- 51, Bharat- 32, Maxwell- 56; Bumrah- 3/36) defeats MI 111 in 18.1 (Rohit- 43; Harshal- 4/17, Chahal- 3/11) by 54 runs