Virat’s 90 and Morris’s perfect debut as RCB land a knockout blow on Chennai Superkings

If there was to be a perfect prototype for how to set up a game, timing the innings to perfection, and then backing it up with a flawless bowling performance, one need not look any further than tonight’s game. A 37-run win over arch-rivals Chennai Superkings, a massive 2 points, and a Virat knock for the ages made it an evening to remember. 

Having opted to bat first, the RCB innings seemed to have been running on sedatives. On a track which appeared to be slowing down, with RCB on 103/4, 150 seemed to be a par score. However, Captain Kohli had his own plans. With 4 overs to go, he was on 44 off 35. Over the next 4 overs, he had faced 17 more balls and raced to 90. An innings that not many in the world could have timed better, RCB’s strategy to have wickets and go big at the death paid off dividends. 66 runs rained in the last 4 overs. Not a bowler spared. The last 4 overs had run on steroids.

It was not just the calculated hitting that was the highlight of Virat’s innings. An insane 8 doubles run in the final 4 overs of the innings were a testament to the fitness of one of the toughest competitors in the game. Even the Dubai heat could not get the better of Virat Kohli.

The momentum of the death overs seemed to have rubbed off on the RCB bowlers. Defending a target of 170, a disciplined start by the fast bowlers, 12 dot balls from the first three overs had heaped pressure on the Chennai batting. When Washington Sundar came in to bowl, Chennai saw an opportunity to attack. Washington’s wit accounted for Faf Du Plessis much akin to the trap which sucked in Rohit Sharma. A wild swipe across the line put an end to the in-form Chennai openers.

Despite the resistance provided by Jagadeesan and Rayudu in the middle, Chennai could not run away with the game. A direct hit from debutant Morris put an end to the partnership, Jagadeesan run-out by a fair margin. However, there was still the threat of Dhoni looming large. Yuzvendra Chahal had not had the best of his days till then, but a contest against MS Dhoni was one that could well have decided the outcome of the game. When Dhoni hit him over long-on for a six, RCB hearts would have skipped a beat. But, Chahal kept his cool. A tossed up, wide delivery and Dhoni could not clear long-off. 

Dhoni’s dismissal came as a sucker punch for CSK who could not recover. 64 from the last 4 overs were way too many than Chennai could muster. Morris’ inclusion made a huge difference. On some days, numbers hardly do justice to a player’s performance. But, 3 wickets, at an economy of less than 5, and a direct hit enforcing a run-out did complete justice to Morris’ debut. On the evening, three RCB bowlers had an economy rate of less than 6 an over - Saini, Washington Sundar, and Chris Morris choking the Chennai batting. A 37-run win and a place in the top 4 after the sixth game of the season was a deserved ending to a complete all-round performance.