IPL 2021, RR vs RCB: The Maxwell-Bharat show helps Bangalore trump by 7 wickets

It was an all-round show by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). On Wednesday, it defeated former champion Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Match 43 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 Dubai International Stadium, thanks to splendid twin innings from Srikar Bharat and Glenn Maxwell.

Winning the toss, RCB skipper Virat Kohli elected to bat first while making a change, bringing in pacer George Garton. As for RR, Sanju Samson made a change, bringing back Kartik Tyagi for Jaydev Unadkat.

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RR openers were off to a solid start, with openers Evin Lewis (58) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (31) contributing to a 31-run stand before the latter fell to pacer Daniel Christian in the ninth over. It was 23 runs later that Lewis, too, walked back after scoring his third IPL half-century, as he was dismissed by Garton in the 12th over.

As Samson (19) and Mahipal Lomror (3) aimed to take control thereon, at 113, the latter was sent back by leg-spinner Chahal in the 13th over, while the same score in the next over saw Samson fall to spinner, Shahbaz Ahmed. It was thereon that RR collapsed like a pile of cards.

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The batters thereon could manage just single figures. Although all-rounder Chris Morris (14) tried his best, he was evicted by pacer Harshal in the final over as RR finished on 149/9.

RCB put seven bowlers into the attack, with Harshal having the most success, with three scalps. In contrast, it was Chahal who had the best economy.

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In reply, the RCB opener, Kohli (25) and Devdutt Padikkal (22) were off to a decent start, contributing 48 runs before the latter was knocked over by pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the sixth over. Just ten runs later, the skipper was run out in the seventh over.

However, it was followed by a 69-run stand for the third wicket between Bharat (44) and all-rounder Maxwell (50*). At 127, Rahman got rid of the former in the 16th.

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Nevertheless, it was too late, as with Maxwell scoring his ninth IPL half-century, got the job done, and RCB won by seven wickets to stay in the third spot. RR too utilised seven bowlers to its effect, with Rahman earning the most success, while pacer Chetan Sakariya was the most economical of all.
Brief scores: RR 149/9 (Lewis- 58, Jaiswal- 31; Harshal- 3/34) lost to RCB 153/3 in 17.1 overs (Bharat- 44, Maxwell- 50; Rahman- 2/20) by seven wickets.