Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Mumbai Indians quite comprehensively by 39 runs in a high-octane IPL cricket clash at the Wankhede Stadium. The total of 235 proved too much for the Mumbai outfit as they only managed to score 196 runs even after playing the entire 20-over quota. The highlighter of the match was certainly the outstanding ton by AB de Villiers, for which he was also adjudged man of the match.
Over 20 || Score 196/7
Chahal with the last over of the match. He picked up his 2nd wicket of the match by scalping the wicket of Jagadeesha Suchith off the 2nd ball. Mitchell McClenaghan, the new batsman to the crease, hit two sixes off the last three balls. But it wasn't proved enough as RCB beat MI quite comfortably by 39 runs.
J Suchith c Karthik b Chahal 4 (4b)
Over 19 || Score 176/6
Now the game is all but over for Mumbai. Starc to bowl the penultimate over of the match. Surprisingly, Starc picked up his first wicket as he got the better of Harbhajan Singh, who gave a skier to Kohli at long on. MI need 54 off 7 balls.
Harbhajan Singh c Kohli b Starc 3 (3b)
Over 18 || Score 176/5
Rayudu got out after hitting a six off Patel as de Villiers took a blinder near the boundary rope. Harshal Patel gave ten runs in his last over and picked up a wicket as well. MI need 60 runs from 12 balls.
AT Rayudu c de Villiers b Patel 14 (4b)
Over 17 || Score 166/4
Davis Waise with his last over. Simmons completed his half-century by hitting the bowler for a boundary point region. The West Indian then celebrated his fifty by clobbering the bowler for a six. In the fifth ball he hit another boundary as the bowler leaked 15 runs. MI need 70 runs from 18 balls.
Over 16 || Score 151/4
Leggie Chahal with his 3rd over. Pandaya Out! After hitting the spinner for a six, Pandya was deceived well in the air by the bowler and Dinesh Karthik dislodged the bails within a flash. Ambati Rayudu is the new man in. And he hit a six over the bowler's head to finish the over. MI need 85 from 24 balls.
HH Pandya st Karthik b Chahal 8 (4b)
Over 15 || Score 135/3
Pollard Out! Sreenath Aravind gave RCB a crucial breakthrough. Leading edge from Pollard's bat and Starc took a well judged catch near the boundary rope. Six runs came from the over along with the big wicket. RCB need 101 runs from 30 balls.
KA Pollard c Starc b Aravind 49 (24b)
Over 14 || Score 129/2
David Wiese with his third over. Both the West Indians in the middle -- Simmons and Pollard -- are looking dangerous. The South African bowled a superb over as he gave mere four runs in it.
Over 13 || Score 125/2
Strike bowler Mitchell Starc is back. Big hitter of the cricket ball, Pollard, hit the bowler for a boundary off the 2nd ball. Off the last ball, he simply hammered the bowler towards cow corner for another boundary. The Australian leaked 12 in the over.
Over 12 || Score 113/2
Can Chahal gets the crucial wicket of Pollard here? 2nd ball, and Pollard danced down the track to hit the leggie into the orbit. It was a huge six straight over the bowler's head. In the meantime, MI have crossed the 100-run mark as well. In the last ball, Simmons played the same shot to hit 2nd six off the over. 16 runs came from the over. And in no time Simmons and Pollard have added 50-run stand for the third wicket.
Over 11 || Score 97/2
Patel with his third over. Now Pollard is picking up his spots and collecting easy boundaries. He hit the bowler for a boundary and a six to collect 14 from the over. This man is capable of turning the tables on his head.
Over 10 || Score 83/2
Sreenath Aravind, who gave mere 12 runs in his first two overs, is back into the attack. But this time Pollard hit the bowler for two consecutive boundaries. It was a stand and deliver stuff by the big man from Trinidad. Off the last ball, Simmons too guided the bowler towards fine third man to collect another boundary. Expensive over as 17 runs came from it.
Over 9 || Score 66/2
Harshal Patel gave Mumbai a big blow in the form of Rohit Sharma. Slower ball by the seamer did the trick as Rohit miss-timed his shot completely as gave a simple catch to long on fielder. Kieron Pollard is the new man to the crease. It means, both the West Indians are in the middle for Mumbai -- Simmons and Pollard.
RG Sharma c Mandeep Singh b Patel 15 (13b)
Over 8 || Score 63/1
Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been the number spinner for RCB, is set to bowl his first over. The leggie is right on the money from the his opening over as he conceded mere five runs.
Over 7 || Score 58/1
First, Simmons hit Wiese for a boundary and then Sharma clobbered the bowler for a maximum over mid-wicket. The seamer leaked 13 runs in the over. Mumbai crossed the 50-run mark in the over.
Over 6 || Score 45/1
Double bowling change. Harshal Patel into the attack. Off the third ball, Simmons charged down the track to hit the bowler over mid-wicket for a six. Ten from the over. Simmons has proved his mettle while playing for MI in the past and today it's another chance for him to play a crucial knock for his side.
Over 5 || Score 35/1
David Wiese with his first over. Skipper Rohit Sharma has come to the crease. Tight over first up by the seamer. Six runs from the over. Rohit has to play a captain's knock today.
Over 4 || Score 29/1
Sreenath Aravind is bowling at a tight line. He has so far been successful in keeping the openers silent. Patel run out! A superb throw and outstanding work by the keeper did the trick for RCB. Four runs came from the over along with the wicket.
PA Patel run out 19 (11b 3x4 0x6)
Over 3 || Score 25/0
Diminutive Parthiv Patel smacked Mitchell Starc, the spearhead of RCB bowling attack, for three boundaries to release some pressure. 14 runs came from the over. Mumbai batsmen have to keep attacking the bowlers if they want to chase down the huge total.
Over 2 || Score 11/0
Mumbai Indian openers Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel have added 11 runs in the first two overs while chasing the mammoth total of 235 runs. They have to give Mumbai a flying start in today's game.
Over 20 || Score 235/1
Pandya to bowl the last over. Three runs came off the first two balls as AB-Kohli added 200-run partnership for the 2nd wicket. It's the 3rd 200-run partnership in the history of the IPL. Kohli took the bowler by surprise as he hit him for two consecutive boundaries before hitting him for a six off the next. 17 runs came in the last over. Riding on the outstanding unbeaten 215-run partnership between Kohli-AB, RCB managed to put up a mammoth total of 235 on the board.
Over 19 || Score 218/1
After winning the contest against Gayle, now Malinga is against AB and Kohli. First ball, AB dispatched the bowler by hitting him towards deep square leg for a boundary. Off the fifth, AB played an inside out to hit the bowler for another four. Malinga proved expensive in his last over as he leaked 14 runs.
Over 18 || Score 204/1
If De Villiers hit Pandya for two boundaries and a six, then, Kohli too collected a boundary as the bowler conceded 19 from the over. In the meantime, RCB crossed the 200-run mark.
Over 17 || Score 185/1
AB de Villiers completed his hundred in style by slapping the bowler for a six. The South African took mere 47 balls to reach the mark. What a cricketer he is. It's his 2nd IPL hundred. Bumrah's inexperience to bowl at the death overs is hurting MI. The seamer leaked 25 runs in the over.
Over 16 || Score 160/1
Strike bowler McClenaghan with his last over. Skipper Virat Kohli completed his fifty by taking a single off the fifth ball. AB, who is hitting the bowlers all over the ground, smacked two boundaries in the over. 13 runs came from the over.
Over 15 || Score 147/1
Hardik Pandya with his first over. AB's ability to pick up the gaps with an ease is on display. The swashbuckling batsman hit the seamer for three consecutive boundaries. He is literally toying with the Mumbai Indians bowling attack. 15 runs came from the over.
Over 14 || Score 132/1
Another good over for RCB as Bumrah gave 11 runs in his third over. AB hit his tenth boundary in the over by slapping the bowler towards cow corner. He is playing a blinder of an innings.
Over 13 || Score 121/1
With both set batsmen at the crease, RCB can easily cross the 200-run mark from here. Double bowling change as Malinga has also been brought back into the attack. After bowling first four balls right on the money, slinger bowled a loose ball and AB punished it. Still a decent over as seven runs came from it. In the meantime, AB-Kohli have added 100-run partnership for the 2nd wicket.
Over 12 || Score 114/1
McClenaghan back into the attack to bowl his 3rd over. AB completed his half-century in style by hitting the pacer for a boundary, straight down the ground. AB then celebrated his fifty by hitting another boundary off the next ball. KOhli-AB are looking unstoppable at the moment.
Over 11 || Score 101/1
RCB have added 43 runs in the last three overs. And now both the batsmen are looking for big hits every now and then. If Kohli hit the bowler for a six then AB too collected a boundary in the over. 100 up for RCB.
Over 10 || Score 88/1
RCB are heading towards a big total. Now Koili has also started taking his chances. Off the fifth ball he danced down the track to hit Bajji over cow corner for a six. Another expensive over by the offie as he leaked 15 runs.
Over 9 || Score 73/1
AB is hitting the ball like a bullet. And is collecting boundaries at will. AB hit Suchith for two boundaries as he has quickly reached to 38 off 23 balls. 12 runs from the over.
Over 8 || Score 61/1
Most experienced spinner in the team, Harbhajan Singh, to bowl his first over. AB played a superb cover drive to get a boundary off the fifth ball towards cover region. Off the next, he came down the track to launched the offie for a six. In the meantime, RCB have crossed the 50-run mark.
Over 7 || Score 46/1
Bumrah bowled a tight over as he only conceded seven from the over. RCB's run-rate is slow according to their standards as of now.
Over 6 || Score 39/1
Spinner into the attack as Jagadeesha Suchith has the bowl in hand. The left-arm spinner proved expensive in his opening over as AB hit two consecutive boundaries to collect 10 from the over.
Over 5 || Score 29/1
Jasprit Bumrah has been introduced as the first bowling change. AB de Villiers is the new man in. Kohli collected his 2nd boundary of the match as nine runs came from the over.
Over 4 || Score 20/1
Finally, one of the MI fielders managed to hold on to a catch as Chris Gayle gave a catch to gully fielder. In fact, It was a blinder by Lendl Simmons. Rohit Sharma, who dropped Gayle in the last over must be a relieved man now. Malinga won the contest today by taking the crucial wicket of dangerous Gayle. Wicket maiden by the slinger.
CH Gayle c Simmons b Malinga 13 (12b)
Over 3 || Score 20/0
Poor fielding at deep square leg gave Kohli his first boundary off the 2nd ball. Gayle Dropped! Rohit Sharma dropped a skier. Will MI going to pay a heavy price for it? OHH off the next ball Harbhajan dropped Kohli at 1st slip. Superb over by McClenaghan but poor fielding might cost MI in the later in the match.
Over 2 || Score 14/0
Malinga vs Gayle. It would be a heck of a contest now between bat and ball. First ball, slinger deceived Gayle with a slower one. Fine over first up by Malinga as he gave mere six runs.
Over 1 || Score 8/0
Chris Gayle smacked Mitchell McClenaghan for a six over cow corner off the third ball to open his account. The monstrous hitter of the cricket ball is looking dashing with his shades on. Eight runs from the first over.
RCB XI: C Gayle, V Kohli, AB de Villiers, D Karthik, S Khan, M Singh, D Wiese, M Starc, H Patel, Y Chahal, S Arvind
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 10, 2015
MI XI: L Simmons, P Patel, RG Sharma, K Pollard, A Rayudu, H Pandya, H Singh, J Suchith, M McClenaghan, L Malinga, J Bumrah
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 10, 2015
Toss: RCB have won the toss and elected to bat first.
Match preview
MI are on a splendid winning spree, clinching five wins in as many games to hold the all-important momentum ahead of their contest against RCB, who are seeking a sixth straight win that would propel them towards the play-off stage.
The brilliant show against Chennai Super Kings in the latter's bastion -- Chidambaram Stadium -- last night would certainly galvanise MI to produce another good performance against RCB who have the advantage of a well-earned rest before the difficult match.
Also read: IPL 2015 Schedule
That the brilliant four-wicket win over CSK in the latter's den came without the presence of their key death bowler Lasith Malinga, who was unable to even go to Chennai because of political reasons, is a feather in MI's well-adorned cap.
With the Sri Lankan sling-arm bowler available to reclaim his spot in the MI line-up, gangling South African pacer Marchant de Lange, who filled in the breach and played his first game, is expected to be benched.
MI's impressive display has come on the backs of quite a few match-winners like captain Rohit Sharma, big-hitting Kieron Pollard, Malinga and Harbhajan Singh.
A lot many players have been putting their shoulders to the MI's pace-gathering process in the last few games which is a very important factor in their fabulous run after tasting four straight defeats in their first four games.
Also read: IPL 2015 Points Table
The openers -- Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel -- have started firing and down the order while Ambati Rayudu has been a source of inspiration whether setting a total or chasing an imposing one with his calm demeanour and ability to clear the rope.
In bowling, after the injury to Corey Anderson, his New Zealand compatriot Mitchell McClenaghan has stepped in to be counted along with young left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith.
And when the chips were down with MI needing 30 from the last two overs last night, Hardik Pandya took up the gauntlet in superb fashion to smash Super Kings' left-arm spinner Pawan Negi for four sixes in the penultimate over to turn the tables.
Currently lying fourth in the table a victory over RCB, which would be their 10th from 17 games, would provide a huge boost to MI's play-off chances.
Also read: IPL 2015 News
However, MI face a formidable adversary in RCB, especially with the looming danger of Mitchell Starc to be confronted by their batsmen at the beginning and at the end of their innings.
The lanky left-arm pace bowler, who has claimed 16 wickets in just seven IPL games this season, has been a major factor in RCB rebounding into play-off contention after an inconsistent initial run, with his ability to take wickets and strangle the opposition.
Two other important cogs in their bowling wheel have been South Africa's David Wiese (10 wickets) and Haryana leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (13 wickets).
Also read: IPL 2015 Full Coverage
Sreenath Aravind's four-wicket haul in his first game during RCB's comprehensive win over Kings XI Punjab was a timely boost to the visitors' dwindling Indian bowling stock which includes the pacy, but expensive, Varun Aaron.
In batting, RCB's main run-makers are the big three -- West Indian master blaster Chris Gayle, aggressive captain Virat Kohli and South African wizard A B de Villiers.
This trio has crossed the 300-run mark this season but the danger is if all of them fail collectively then the rest of Royal Challengers' batting looks a bit fragile.
RCB are in firth spot with 11 points and four games in hand and, like in MI's case, a victory over the high-flying home team would be a good shove towards clinching a play-off berth.
