Krunal, Virat`s crucial knocks help RCB gain top spot post DC encounter

Half-centurions Krunal Pandya (47-ball 73 not out) and Virat Kohli (51 off 47 balls)  helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Delhi Capitals by six wickets here on Sunday.

Chasing 163, the duo added 119 runs for the fourth wicket as the visitors chased down the target with nine balls to spare. The victory gave RCB their seventh win in 10 matches, taking them to the top spot in the points table.

Earlier, some restrained bowling on a slow Feroz Shah Kotla wicket and some power hitting by lower middle-order batters saw DC set RCB a challenging target of 163.

Also Read: “India should also withdraw from playing against Pakistan in ICC tournaments”: Mohammad Azharuddin

A seventh-wicket stand of 38 off just 15 balls by Vipraj Nigam and Tristan Stubbs ensured Delhi went past the 150-mark. put up a somewhat fighting total on board. KL Rahul once again proved to be DC’s saviour at home as he top-scored with 41 off 39 balls while the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Stubbs was the second-highest scorer for DC with 34 off 18.

Visiting RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and put Delhi in on a wicket that was different from the previous matches here. The ball was stopping before coming on to the bat and this combined by RCB’s sharp bowling meant the DC batters were never comfortable.

DC openers Abhishek Porel and Faf du Plessis put up a partnership of 33 off 22 balls for the first wicket. Porel was the aggressor, scoring 28 off 11 with two fours and two sixes, even Du Plessis was watchful.

RCB’s opening pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal ensured the DC top order was reined in. The hosts managed just 52-2 in the Powerplay with Karun Nair (four off 12) also departing early.

Leg break googly bowler Suyash Sharma replaced Dayal after the Powerplay, while left-arm spinner Pandya replaced Hazelwood. 

The exit of Du Plessis (22 off 26) brought in DC skipper Axar Patel alongside Rahul and they put on a decent 30 off 23 balls before Stubbs and Nigam began some late hitting. 

Brief scores
DC 162-8 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 41, T Stubbs 34; B Kumar 3-33, J Hazlewood 2-36) lost to RCB 165-4 in 18.3 overs (K Pandya 73*, V Kohli 51; A Patel 2-19) by six wickets