Glenn Maxwell a smashing hit after RR implode: With Samson also starting out brilliantly, the pressure was on Royal Challengers Bangalore. To the delight of the RCB shelter, Lewis tried to pull Garton‘s first ball and landed a thick cap for goalkeeper KS Bharat to catch a good run.
Next, Virat Kohli gave newcomer George Garton more hope. Evin Lewis went on strike. The left-handed starter had led Garton to the cleanup in his second over and scored 18 runs with two sixes and one four. The left-arm pacemaker was numbered 2-21-0.
Since Samson also started out brilliantly, the pressure was on Royal Challengers Bangalore. To the delight of the RCB shelter, Lewis attempted to pull Garton’s first ball and landed a thick cap for goalkeeper KS Bharat to catch a good run.
Thereafter, the Royals’ tickets imploded. From 100/1 they finished at 149/9, which RCB effortlessly chased in 17.1 overs with seven wickets to go.
The victory helped RCB to 14 points after 11 games. The Royals remain with eight points and seventh in the general classification.
The game’s turning point was Kohli‘s decision to use Garton only for one change. Starting on the 13th he used a double spin attack from Yuzvendra Chahal and Shabaz Ahmed‘s left arm. Rather than playing their normal game, the Royals hitters approached the innings with the sole aim of benefiting from a great start in the opening games. It was disastrous. Three wickets fell into eight balls, including Inform Samson.
Mahipal Lomror started the procession charging towards Chahal to be kicked by the fifth ball in the thirteenth. At the other end, Shahbaz took Samson’s first ball. The royal captain chose outfield player Devdutt Padikkal to get his third six. Shahbaz had his second wicket of the overs when Rahul Tewatia swept a deep square leg back.
The Royals still had their most expensive purchase, the Bighit Chris Morris and Riyan Parag, to take advantage of the big efforts. But RCB death overs specialist Harshal Patel made an excellent final to scoop out the two balls in a row. He added one more ball to the final ball to finish with three wickets for three runs.
However, Srikar Bharat and Glenn Maxwell did their best to build a partnership. After 15 overs, they had brought RCB to 123/2. Mustafizur gave the Royals some hope by claiming the Bharat wicket in 16 more, but Maxwell took 22 runs from Chris Morris in the next over to end the game. The Australian, who had 26 balls of 21 when Bharat fell, entered his half century with 30 balls.
Click here: Despite ODI struggles, Ellyse Perry set to keep the new ball for Test match
Read more about: Kieron Pollard says “These people speak and don’t understand what persons go through as cricketers” in the IPL 2021
Visit also: Virat Kohli Mesmerizes with Pristine Stroke-Making at RCB’s net Session