IPL 2022: With a 13-run victory, RCB pushes CSK to the brink of elimination.
On Wednesday, Harshal Patel and Glenn Maxwell spearheaded a precise bowling effort that helped Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Chennai Super Kings by 13 runs, putting the defending champions on the verge of elimination in the IPL. The RCB foursome of Mahipal Lomror (27 off 42), Faf du Plessis (38 off 22), Virat Kohli (30 off 33), and Dinesh Karthik (27 not out off 17) performed admirably to help the team reach 173 for 8. Despite a fifty by opener Devon Conway, RCB bowlers restricted the reigning champions to 160 for 8.
While Maxwell finished with great figures of 2 for 22 from his four overs, Harshal was spot on, taking three wickets for 35 runs.
Shabaz Ahmed (1/27), Wanindu Hasaranga (1/31) and Josh Hazlewood (1/19) each claimed one wicket.
With the win, RCB moved up to fourth place on the points table, while CSK stayed in penultimate place, putting them closer to elimination.
RCB bowlers leaked runs in the Powerplay, same like CSK, but left-arm spinner Shabaz and left-arm paceman Maxwell got a flurry of wickets between the 7th and 10th overs, including opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (28).
Conway put up considerable resistance with a 37-ball 56, but Maxwell sent him back to the hut.
Ravindra Jadeja sought to boost the ante with 56 needed off the last five overs, but the all-rounder, who has struggled with form this season, blasted a slow Patel delivery over cover straight to Kohli’s hands.
RCB’s death over specialist struck once more, this time dispatching the deadly Ali, who was just starting to find his stride.
CSK required 52 from 24 balls when Dhoni came in, which was quickly reduced to 39 from the final two overs. The talismanic leader, on the other hand, was unable to get his team over the finish line.
RCB’s greatest Powerplay total this season was 57 runs in the first six overs, thanks to the opening pair.
With the uncapped talent scoring freely, skipper MS Dhoni deployed spin, which stalled the RCB’s progress.
Ali, who returned to the side following an ankle injury, broke the threatening combination when du Plessis found Jadeja at deep midwicket in the eighth over on a pitch that offered turn and bounce.
The big-hitting Australian’s brief tenure in the middle came to an end after a terrible mix-up between Kohli and newcomer Glenn Maxwell.
The CSK bowlers did a tremendous job after an expensive start.
RCB was trying to recover from the twin blows, when Ali bowled a brilliant delivery
