From Glenn Maxwell to Wayne Parnell: Top 3 performers for RCB against RR

It was a clinical display from the Royal Challengers Bangalore as they ran riot at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, seizing an emphatic victory against the mighty Rajasthan Royals in a must-win battle. It was a collective effort from the Royal Challengers Bangalore that starred a handful of imperious batting displays featuring Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell, with both of them scoring half-centuries each while Anuj Rawat stayed unbeaten in the end to smash a fine 29.

The bowlers put on their best performance of the season as they skittled out RR for a paltry 59. It was another collective show of domination with the hosts barely able to keep themselves in a piece. Almost all the bowlers chimed in with crucial contributions while the fielding for the Royal Challengers was absolutely electric too. On a day from which it is very hard to find a blemish on the ever-so-fluent performances of RCB, here are the three finest displays for the Red and Gold Army against RR.

1.    Glenn Maxwell – 55 (34) and 1/3

The Aussie all-rounder was in absolutely unstoppable form with the bat, smoking the ball to all parts of the ground right from the time he arrived in the middle. Playing the perfect destructor to complement Faf du Plessis’ watchful role at the other end, Maxwell hammered 55 from just 34 balls, a knock that comprised five fours and three sixes, one that shifted the momentum RCB’s way and helped set a platform for a fiery finish. Maxwell took an important wicket too, sending back a dangerous-looking Shimron Hetmyer, who seemed to be in some devastating form. 

2.    Anuj Rawat – 29* (11), a catch and a run-out

As Ravi Shastri put it from the commentary box during the game, Anuj Rawat couldn’t have made any mistake. From knitting together exquisite strikes backed by power, precision and self-belief, Rawat pressed the pedal hard enough to help RCB reach 171. While on the field with the gloves on, Rawat took a very well-judged high catch to send back Sanju Samson and then produced a moment of magic to throw the ball through his legs and catch R Ashwin short of his crease. 

3.    Wayne Parnell – 3/10

The South African fast bowler was bang on his money as he would go on to bag the all-important wickets of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Joe Root, ripping apart the Rajasthan Royals top-order in their chase of a 172-run target. Parnell’s yorker to remove Root made quite the headlines, and for his terrific spell of 3/10, the left-arm seamer was also rightfully named the Player of the Match.