RCB convincingly defeated LSG and made a statement that this time they are here to win their maiden IPL which is eluding them for more than a decade. RCB bowlers made sure that they are not giving any freebies to LSG batters who are very much eager to pounce on an opportunity.
LSG on the other hand would be regretting missing out to hunt down 182 target as this year’s chasing has been the favorable option as teams have chased down the target quite easily. LSG Management once again made a blunder by dragging Stoinis down at No.7 as later KL Rahul was seen saying that the team wants a right-hand left-hand combination.
LSG Head Coach Andy Flower needs to interfere in this matter as Stoinis opens the innings for his BBL Franchise and making him bat at No.7 is indeed a crime as we all know how RR won the match against LSG.
All in all, batting positions are proving to be decisive as it doesn’t matter how many batters you have if you are losing and the same happened against RR and LSG and now if LSG wants to win their maiden IPL title then they must change their tactics otherwise the things will definitely turn out ugly for them as in IPL it doesn’t require time for a team to lose 5-6 matches on the trot and that sequence we have seen as MI have lost 6 matches on the bounce.
RCB with the bat in hand
RCB were rocked early as they lost 4 wickets inside 10 overs and the only recognized and proper batter present was the Captain Faf. Virat was dismissed for a golden duck which now has started to raise some eyebrows for his place in the team as he is not scoring runs by any means.
Faf took time to get his eye in and then made sure to punish each and every bowler, especially the leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi was taken to the cleaners. All of a sudden it looked like Faf would score his maiden ton but he was undone by the foxy Holder who got him out in the 90s.
RCB Captain made sure that the team posted a challenging total of 182 runs as the target may not be a sure-shot winner but will possess a challenge.
LSG with the bat in hand
KL Rahul and Quinton made sure to not lose wickets up-front but Hazlewood had other ideas as he took 2 wickets up-front of Quinton and Manish Pandey. The run rate started to rise as KL Rahul started to play slowly as he knew that his job now is to bat long.
Krunal played a breezy cameo and made a statement that he isn’t finished. Then came the duo of Holder and Stoinis who had a stiff task on their hands as the required run rate was more than 12.
Hazlewood made sure that RCB win convincingly as he got rid of Badoni and Stoinis. RCB made a statement that they are good at defending the target too which is rare but threatening as RCB has started making strong in-roads.
Source: Times of India
