On this day in 2010: Kevin Pietersen and RCB bowlers crush RR

Royal Challengers Bangalore had started the 2010 season of the IPL like a juggernaut destroying every opponent in their path. Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Superkings had fallen at the might of RCB in their first five games of the season. But, a mid-season slumps saw RCB winning only two of their next seven games. The remaining two league matches were going to be crucial for RCB’s top 4 hopes, and a win in the next game against Rajasthan Royals would go a long way in ensuring that. Rajasthan on the other hand would be seeking redemption for the embarrassing 10 wicket defeat from earlier in the season where they were dismissed for less than 100 at the fortress, Sawai Mansingh stadium.

Having elected to bat first, Rajasthan Royals were strangled by disciplined RCB bowling. With nothing on offer, Rajasthan a combination of panic and a need to manufacture runs set in. The result was three wickets in the first 20 balls. Such was the control RCB bowlers had on Rajasthan Royals’ batsmen that even after 10 overs, Royals were struggling to score at a run-a-ball. The pressure told as Watson, trying to force the pace pulled one straight to Kevin Pietersen at mid-wicket off Jacques Kallis.

Yusuf Pathan was Royals’ last hope to put up a competitive total, but RCB had their trump card up their sleeve. Dale Steyn was brought back into the attack to do a job and he did it to perfection. Expecting a barrage of short-pitched bowling, Pathan had stayed on the backfoot, only for a full, swinging delivery from Steyn to knock off his off stump. Royals were reeling at 72/6 with almost 7 overs left. Adam Voges and Abhishek Raut tried to rescue the innings, and despite some late-innings acceleration could only muster 130 in their 20 overs; a total well below-par on a surface on which the Royals’ skipper Warne had reckoned that 170 was a par score.

Kevin Pietersen combined class and power and put the game beyond RR

RCB needed a clinical run-chase, but got the innings got off to the worst possible start. Kallis dragged one on trying to cut Kamran Khan. However, Kevin Pietersen, batting at No. 3, did not give the Rajasthan Royals bowlers any further cause for celebration. He attacked right from the beginning, taking on RR’s wicket-taker Kamran Khan in the fourth over. 18 runs had come of it, which included three boundaries and a pull over mid-wicket which cleared the ropes. 

Pietersen kept going despite the fall of Manish Pandey and in Robin Uthappa he found an able ally. The third wicket partnership worth 60 runs came in 35 balls killed off the game. Pietersen was eventually dismissed for 62 off 29, an innings filled with classy stroke-play and scary hitting which also earned him the Man of the Match award. Pietersen gave an account of why he was considered one of the greatest matchwinners of his time. Despite the fall of Uthappa, Pietersen and Kohli in quick succession, the game was well beyond Rajasthan. The calm head of Dravid and Ross Taylor took the team across the finish line with 26 balls to spare. The victory not only consolidated RCB’s position in the top 4, but also improved the Net run rate massively which came in handy later on.