The much-anticipated clash between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 2nd lived up to its billing. Both teams showcased explosive batting displays, but ultimately, LSG’s well-rounded performance secured them a thrilling 28-run victory.
Exploding from the Start, LSG Sets a Challenging Total
LSG openers, KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, provided their team with a flying start. De Kock, in particular, reached the coveted 3,000-run milestone in the IPL in fine style. However, RCB’s spin wizard Glenn Maxwell provided the breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous Rahul in the powerplay.
LSG Batting Innings
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul (c) | 20 | 15 | 2 | 1 |
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | 32 | 18 | 5 | 0 |
| Mayank Yadav | 54 | 38 | 4 | 1 |
| Deepak Hooda | 34 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| Marcus Stoinis | 22 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| Others | 13 | – | – | – |
| Extras | 7 | – | – | – |
| Total | 181/5 (20 overs) | 140 | 17 | 4 |
Mayank Yadav Anchors the Innings
The dismissal of Rahul brought Mayank Yadav to the crease, and the experienced batsman played a crucial role in steadying the LSG innings. He anchored the innings with a well-paced half-century, finding valuable support from Deepak Hooda’s explosive cameo.
RCB Bowling Struggles to Contain the Flow of Runs
While RCB bowlers managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals, particularly Mohammed Siraj who scalped three, they couldn’t contain the flow of runs entirely. LSG finished their innings with a formidable total of 181/5 on the board.
RCB Top Order Stumbles in the Chase
Chasing a stiff target of 182, RCB’s top order failed to fire. Captain Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, the batting stalwarts, departed cheaply, putting RCB on the backfoot early on. The onus then fell on the middle order to salvage the chase.
RCB Batting Innings
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faf du Plessis (c) | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | 9 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Rajat Patidar | 67 | 41 | 7 | 2 |
| Glenn Maxwell | 42 | 25 | 3 | 3 |
| Others | 34 | – | – | – |
| Extras | 9 | – | – | – |
| Total | 153/10 (19.4 overs) | 136 | 16 | 6 |
Middle-Order Fightback Falls Short
Despite a valiant effort from the middle order, particularly the young Rajat Patidar’s brilliant knock and Glenn Maxwell’s quickfire cameo, RCB fell short of the target. The required run rate kept climbing, and LSG’s bowling attack held their nerve under pressure, preventing a dramatic comeback.
LSG Bowling Holds Onto Victory
Dushmantha Chameera and Ravi Bishnoi proved instrumental in stifling the RCB chase. Chameera, in particular, picked up crucial wickets at regular intervals, derailing RCB’s momentum.
A Turning Point in the Match
While the entire match was a close contest, a crucial turning point arguably came with the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell. Just when it seemed like he and Patidar were building a dangerous partnership, Maxwell was caught at the deep mid-wicket boundary. This dismissal halted RCB’s momentum and proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.
LSG Clinch a Close Victory
With wickets falling at regular intervals and the pressure mounting, RCB fell short of the target by 28 runs, handing LSG a well-deserved victory.
Looking Ahead: A Tale of Two Teams