The green-jerseyed RCB defeated Rajasthan Royals by seven runs in a thrilling IPL 2023 match on Sunday at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium thanks to pacer Harshal Patel, who maintained his composure to defend 20 runs in the final over.
When Jos Buttler was out for 0 in the first over at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Rajasthan Royals’ attempt to chase down 190 got off to a terrible start. Devdutt Padikkal and Yashasvi Jaiswal then teamed up to resurrect Rajasthan, scoring 98 runs for the second wicket.
Before David Willey removed ex-RCB batsman Padikkal for 52 (34), he looked sharp as he sped to a brilliant fifty. The RR opener fell to a slower delivery from Harshal Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was the next batter to get out.
Earlier in the day, Royal Challengers Bangalore almost reached a massive total thanks to impact player Faf du Plessis (62) and Glenn Maxwell’s (77) century stand before Rajasthan Royals give a tough fightback to stop them to 189 runs for 9 wickets.
Twitter fans reaction after Harshal Patel’s heroic:
Harshal patel bowled really well in last two matches
— Maxi ๐ (@maxiking018) April 23, 2023
Harshal patel you back ๐ฅ๐
— fernweh (@justacrazyass) April 23, 2023
Harshal Patel appreciation tweet ๐ซถ๐ฅ
— Akash (@akashhhh18) April 23, 2023
1 like = 1clap
1rt = 10 claps for RCB's bowling (harshal Patel)โค๏ธโ๐ฅ#Rcb #harshalpatel #ViratKohli #RCBvsRR— ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐_๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ (@Gowdru_Twittz) April 23, 2023
Virat Kohli, Yuzi Chahal & Harshal Patel having fun together after the match – The friendship, The pure Bond.
What a beautiful picture! pic.twitter.com/8yQnsTXwI7
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 23, 2023
Harshal Patel – The Hero for RCB.
Rajasthan Royals needs 20 runs in last overs and He given just 12 runs in 20th over and his bowling figure (4-0-32-3) against RR. Incredible, Harshal Patel. pic.twitter.com/3NVKPAxOr9
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 23, 2023
Harshal Patel under Virat Kohli Captaincy is a completely different beast.
Come as Impact Player, just gave 32 runs in his spell and took 3 wickets.
Well bowled @HarshalPatel23 ๐ pic.twitter.com/OR4KUHyhrq
— V I P E Rโข (@VIPERoffl) April 23, 2023
The first delivery of the game saw RR pacer Trent Boult dismiss Virat Kohli (0) for his 100th career IPL wicket, giving his team a perfect start. Boult then returned for a second over and had Shahbaz Ahmed (2) caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at short midwicket.
In contrast, Du Plessis and Maxwell launched a counterattack, with the RCB captain hitting Sandeep Sharma (2/49) for three fours and two sixes in two overs. The third 100-run partnership for the duo in as many games this season came in just 66 balls between Maxwell and du Plessis as they added 127 runs for the third wicket.
Du Plessis’ overall total of 405 runs in only seven games, the most of any batter thus far, was increased with his fifth half-century. He hit two sixes and eight fours in his 39-ball innings. Maxwell, on the other hand, scored his third fifty of the IPL season for a 44-ball 77 (6x4s, 4×6), but the rest of the RCB batters failed to capitalize on the excellent foundation that their top order had laid.
Dinesh Karthik was the only remaining RCB batsman to score in double digits. In the final five overs, the Royals bowlers stood out for their disciplined effort to bring things back and two run-outs. But none of the Royals bowlers could dismiss Maxwell or du Plessis, who smashed all over the park.
Du Plessis was dismissed, but the RCB struggled after that. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant direct throw in the 14th over resulted in du Plessis being run out. Seven wickets were lost for 50 runs as the Virat Kohli-led team fell apart from 139/2 to 189/9.
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