RCB steamroll RR in brute show of batting force in Jaipur

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru laid absolute waste to Rajasthan Royals as they kept their away record in this year’s IPL unblemished. It was their green game of the season and the team came together in upping the heat in Jaipur as they shot down a formidable total on the board with consummate ease.

Winning the toss, RCB opted to bowl first. Yashasvi Jaiswal took centerstage for the Royals as he continued his rich vein of form at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Sanju Samson was happy to play second fiddle before Krunal Pandya got the better of the RR skipper.

An incoming Riyan Parag did get a start and gave valuable company to Jaiswal who looked solid for his 47-ball-75. With Parag (30) and Jaiswal putting up a solid 56 runs stand for the second wicket, RR looked in good control and poised for a strong finish until Yash Dayal delivered his magic to get the better of Parag.

Dhruv Jurel was the next to walk in the center and regulated the innings well enough to keep the momentum alive. However, the RCB bowlers ensured that they kept the boundaries in check. The dearth of fours and sixes created the pressure on the Royals and trying to break free, Yashasvi Jaiswal found himself glancing at the wrong one from Josh Hazlewood.

Jurel stayed unbeaten for 35 as RR piled up 173/4 from their 20 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya and Josh Hazlewood were decent with their bowling, claiming a wicket apiece to allow RCB a good charge at the numbers.

RCB had a couple of early lifelines as Phil Salt was lucky to escape on the very first ball with Jofra Archer dishing out a masterclass of an inswinger. Salt was dropped too in the wee hours of his innings only to come out lashing at the bowlers.

Salt (65) had no hesitation in playing his shots and he turned the bowlers and the boundary lines into mere formalities. Virat Kohli was happy to play second fiddle to Phil’s belligerence as RCB posted an opening stand of 92 runs. Salt smacked five fours and six sixes to assert his authority before another mistimed hit took the ball flying to Yashasvi Jaiswal at deep mid-wicket.

An incoming Devdutt Padikkal who was brought on as an impact player looked in phenomenal touch and RCB’s juggernaut continued to move forth with the same rampaging spree. Kohli stayed unbeaten for a staggering 62 off just 45 balls, clobbering four fours and two sixes while Padikkal blazed out an unbeaten 40 as RCB ran away to the finish line with nine wickets and 15 balls to spare. Phil Salt won the Player of the Match award for his rollicking blitz up front as RCB secured their fourth win of the season from just six games.