RCB crash to another miserable defeat
Despite the target being only 158, and Virat Kohli getting a fifty in the chase, Royal Challengers Bangalore were kept to 96 for 9 in a morale-killing defeat by Rising Pune Supergiant
Despite the target being only 158, and Virat Kohli getting a fifty in the chase, Royal Challengers Bangalore were kept to 96 for 9 in a morale-killing defeat by Rising Pune Supergiant
Commentator: Akshay Gopalakrishnan
A win margin of 61 after a total of 157 is just ridiculous. But it's been that sort of a game. The first game of double-header Saturday was a no-contest. But do tune in to see what happens in the second game, between Gujarat Lions and Mumbai Indians at Rajkot. This is all we have from here. Cheers!
"I think we were probably 15-20 short today, but we started really well, which made my job easier. I could create some pressure", says Man of the Match Lockie Ferguson. "The boys were incredible, and obviously, feels pretty good to do well personally well too. My strength lies in back of a length, I try to bowl a few cutters as well. But credit to the other guys as well for building up the pressure, I couldn't have done it without that."
"It's nice to have a got a nice little streak going,", says Rising Pune captain Steven Smith. "We didn't know what would be a good score at the halfway mark, to be honest, but we wanted a complete performance today and we got that. We executed our plans really well tonight, Lockie Ferguson bowled beautifully. They're being very consistent for us, hopefully, then can continue it and win us a few more games. It's a magnificent effort from Lockie, hit good lengths and bowled good bouncers as well. He is an exciting player for the future."
The only consolation for RCB from all this is really the fact that they avoided getting bowled out for the third successive time. Bowled out twice and nine wickets down in back-to-back games in innings of 20 overs each is a sign of serious worry.
"I think it's for everyone to see we lost that game. It's hard for a captain to stand here and speak after a performance like this," says RCB captain Virat Kohli. "But got to learn and move on from these kind of experiences. We lost the game rather than them winning it. Could be a few reasons, expectations, people looking at us as a good batting side that made the Playoffs last year. Can't really pinpoint something - could be hesitation to get out, to get runs. We are pretty much not in the race for the Playoffs, all we can do is enjoy the four remaining games."
Karthik: "It's better they stop rotating the foreign players. Who gives priority to Travis Head over Gayle. Such a mess up, they can't get into the playoffsâ, that's sure. But they can showcase a good game of cricket for the fans to maintain momentum for the next season. There will be a completely new team next year with all players going into the auction. Hope they end the season on a high. "
Kushal: "RCB scorecard still resembles a cell num of Brazil (+55) along with area code 84 for 2 not outs and 8 digits for dismissed batsmen . +55 84 23721352 !! Surely someone has this number"
mvl: "Kushal: Someone? why? RPS has RCB's number today!"
Lockie Ferguson's 18 dot balls today are the most by any bowler this season.
Phani: "Similar to deccan chargers inaugural season. Stars, big names and disastrous results"
Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Tymal Mills has recovered from a hamstring niggle but Rising Pune Supergiant are likely to miss the services of their key allrounder Ben Stokes
Virat Kohli was the only Bangalore batsman to reach double figures in the 158-run chase
Virat Kohli thinks it was a clear case of RCB losing rather than Pune winning, after they slumped to a 61-run loss to see their Playoff hopes take another massive hit
Lockie Ferguson isn't a superstar, but against a batting unit full of them, his pace and wily variations made for top-class bowling
They are running away with the most single-digits scores this season and gifted an opposition bowler the record for most dots bowled in an IPL innings in 2017