Mumbai : PBKS bowlers jolted RCB with regular wickets and derailed their run-chase to register a 54-run win. Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell kept the scoreboard ticking but both departed soon to give PBKS the upper-hand while Dinesh Karthik was also removed early. Earlier, Rishi Dhawan jolted RCB with two wickets in an over as he dismissed captain Faf Du Plessis and Mahipal Lomror in quick succession.
Earlier, openers Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli gave RCB a solid start in their run-chase of 210 vs PBKS but soon lost the latter for 20 runs off 14 balls to Kagiso Rabada. Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow hit classy fifties to help PBKS post 209/9 in 20 overs vs RCB. After Jonny Bairstow’s explosive start, Liam Livingstone carried on the good work as he hit RCB bowlers to all parts of the ground and beyond for his fifty in 35 balls, however, wickets continued to tumble from the other end.
Bairstow, Player of the Match said, ‘It’s one of those days. A couple of those come off and it’s your day. Many quality bowlers in the IPL and sometimes you’ve got to try and get them off their lengths (taking on Josh). It’s a completely different commodity, playing with England and playing here. Stats would suggest I quite enjoy opening the batting.’.
Agarwal, PBKS captain, said, ‘We were brilliant with the bat. Wicket was holding up a bit. The way Jonny and Livi batted, was amazing. We haven’t changed a lot to be honest, just about understanding few situations, understanding the wicket. Have to be adaptable and flexible which we have been, which is nice. Can’t be too defensive with the ball. If batsman get going, it doesn’t matter, the boundaries don’t matter these days.
Two points the most crucial thing for us. As long as the job gets done, I’m fine batting at five. Very very energetic person, very confident guy (Arshdeep). Enjoys his cricket. Must say he’s the leader in the team. He rallies around everyone, takes up the responsibility, even goes up and speaks to the bowlers sometimes.’
Faf du Plessis, RCB skipper, said, ‘It was a good score, obviously Jonny the way he started put our bowlers under really pressure. I thought we pulled it back a bit. 200 was about par on that wicket, was a brilliant wicket. When you’re chasing scores like that, you can’t afford to lose wickets in clusters and unfortunately, that’s what happened to us. He (Kohli) is seeing the lighter side of it, every single way that you can possibly get out, is happening to him. That’s how the game works. All you can do is to keep trying hard, work hard and stay positive. He played some good shots tonight, obviously would want him to carry on.
Bad patches happen to all of us, he’s taken it in the right note. Not a great outing for us tonight. Will take a day off and then see how we can switch on for a game that’s a must-win one for us. One more net session isn’t going to make you a better player, it’s about making yourselves stronger in the mind. If we play to our potential, we are a very strong side. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that tonight.’