Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) seasoned pacer Josh Hazlewood delivered a stellar performance against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 42 of IPL 2025. His final two overs turned the game on its head as he bagged crucial wickets and tightened the scoring. After conceding 26 runs in his first two overs, Hazlewood bounced back with a brilliant spell at the death. In the 17th over, he conceded only six runs and dismissed Shimron Hetmyer. His final over, the 19th of the match, was even more impactful—he gave away just one run and took the important scalps of Dhruv Jurel and Jofra Archer, leaving RR short of the target.
Andy Flower Hails Hazlewood’s Match-Winning Skillset
RCB head coach Andy Flower was full of praise for the Australian seamer in the post-match press conference. He described Hazlewood as a “class operator” and lauded his composure under pressure. According to Flower, Hazlewood’s ability to adapt, read the game, and choose the right delivery—be it a yorker, slower ball, or wide variation—demonstrates his world-class skill. Flower emphasized that while Hazlewood is typically known for his heavy length bowling, his death-over versatility is what makes him such a valuable asset to the squad.
RCB Clinch First Home Win and Climb the Points Table
Thanks to Hazlewood’s exceptional spell, RCB restricted RR to 194/9, defending their total and winning the match by 11 runs. This marked RCB’s first home victory of the season and moved them to third place on the points table with six wins in nine matches. Hazlewood’s efforts earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
RCB now looks forward to their next challenge against Delhi Capitals on April 27 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The team will be hoping to carry this momentum forward as the playoff race heats.
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