IPL 2018, RCB vs MI: Hits and Misses

In their penultimate home game, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) lost their third consecutive toss and were put in to bat by Mumbai Indians. The hosts got off to a slow start before Manan Vohra gave some much-needed momentum to the innings with a fluent 31-ball 45.

After his dismissal, Brendon McCullum and Virat Kohli were looking very good and it seemed like the hosts would get to 175-180. But Hardik Pandya ran McCullum out before taking 3 wickets, including that of Kohli in one over to change the complexion of the innings. RCB then struggled at the death before 3 sixes from Colin de Grandhomme in the final overtook them to 167.

The pitch was turning and 168 was going to be a tricky target. MI got off to a bad start as they lost 3 wickets in the powerplay as Tim Southee and Umesh Yadav bowled wonderfully in the powerplay. RCB then sent back the dangerous Kieron Pollard and JP Duminy and gained total control of the game. However, the Pandya brothers threatened to take the game away from the hosts but RCB held their nerve and eventually won by 14 runs.

---

#5 Miss: Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock struggled in his 13-ball knock.

Quinton de Kock has not been at his best in this IPL. He’s got stars in almost every innings but hasn’t kicked on and made a big score. He has scored just one fifty in this season.

In this game, with AB de Villiers missing out due to viral fever, de Kock’s role at the top of the order became a lot more crucial. However, the South African opener struggled and looked completely out of sorts in his 13-ball stay at the crease. The Mumbai pacers bowled very well against the 25-year-old left-hander as they varied their pace superbly. De Kock struggled to pick the slower ones and was through his shots quite early.

He did score a boundary but that was also off the top-edge and he was eventually dismissed trying to force the issue. He scored a scratchy 13-ball 7 and was out for his second single-digit score in this IPL.

#4 Hit: Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya finally found some form with the bat.

Even though Hardik Pandya has been quite disappointing with the bat, he has been quite decent with the ball in this season. He has got hit in a few games but he has picked up wickets at regular intervals.

In this game, he had a horror start. The Baroda all-rounder bowled a waist-high full-toss off his second delivery and was also hit for two sixes and a four in his first over. However, after conceding 20 runs in his first over, Pandya came back superbly.

He first affected an excellent runout to dismiss Brendon McCullum with a direct hit from mid-off. And then he conceded just 8 runs in his next two overs. Moreover, he picked up 3 wickets in one over (18th of the innings) to turn the game. He picked up the wickets of Mandeep Singh, Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar to change the complexion of the game.

With the bat, Hardik came in with MI 47/4 and tried to counter-attack as he hit Washington Sundar for a six and a four. He was looking in good touch as he raced off 21 off 13 balls but he slowed down after JP Duminy’s run out. However, he kept MI in the hunt and kept the scoreboard ticking. He scored a well-compiled half-century but he found no proper support at the other end.

#3 Miss: Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav started well but played across the line and was out LBW.

Suryakumar Yadav has been Mumbai’s most consistent batsman. Ever since he’s started opening the batting, he’s looked in sublime touch. His only failure came against RCB a couple of weeks ago. Once again the Mumbaikar couldn’t perform against the Virat Kohli-led team as he was out for just 9.

Chasing 168, Suryakumar Yadav had a new opening partner in Ishan Kishan after Evin Lewis sat out due to a wrist injury. He started well as he was timing the ball well and scored a boundary to get off the mark with a nice drive. He then struck another stylish boundary off Umesh Yadav in the next over.

However, he has a tendency of playing across the line trying to whip the ball off the stumps and he fell prey to that as he was out LBW. Umesh Yadav bowled it straight on off-stump caught Suryakumar in front. The 27-year-old was dismissed for a run-a-ball 9 as his dismissal left MI at 21/2 which soon turned into 21/3.

#2 Hit: Colin de Grandhomme

Colin de Grandhomme's 10-ball 23 might have been the difference between the two sides.

It was very surprising to see someone like Colin de Grandhomme sit out especially after RCB’s middle-order woes. However, he was finally drafted in a couple of games back. He scored 11 in the last two games, but he showed why he is rated so highly.

The New Zealand all-rounder came to bat in the 18th over and saw wickets fall around him. He was batting on 2 off 5 deliveries when the final over started. And that final over completely changed the momentum of the game. He struck three sixes off Mitchell McClenaghan and fetched 23 runs to help RCB finish with a last-over flourish as he finished with a 10-ball 23.

While defending 168, RCB began very well but Washington Sundar gave away 15 runs in the 10th over and hence, Virat Kohli turned to de Grandhomme who wasn’t used with the ball in the last couple of games. He came in and bowled a couple of really tight overs as he gave away just 11 runs in his first two overs before going for 17 in his third.

He was also excellent on the field, saving vital runs in the deep. Hence, it was an all-round performance from the 31-year-old Kiwi as he put in a vital performance and helped RCB get their 3rd win of the season.

#1 Hit: RCB pace attack

Tim Southee was awarded the Man of the Match for his terrific performance with the ball.

RCB have struggled to find the right bowling combination. After starting with Chris Woakes and Kulwant Khejroliya along with Umesh Yadav, but they proved to be quite expensive and hence, there was a change as Tim Southee was drafted in and Mohammed Siraj was also brought in.

Umesh Yadav has been RCB’s best bowler. He’s been excellent in the powerplay throughout this IPL. He’s often given RCB the early breakthrough, but he has disappointed at the death and hence, Virat Kohli has tried to finish his quota early. Once again, he was excellent as he turned the game in RCB’s favour when he picked up Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma off successive deliveries. And the Vidarbha pacer was brilliant in the field as well as He ran JP Duminy out from the cover boundary with an excellent throw.

It was Tim Southee’s second game and he brought the much-needed calmness to the bowling attack. He started with a bang as he knocked over Ishan Kishan with a beautiful in-swinger. He gave just 10 runs in his first two overs. And then he came back at the death and bowled the crucial overs. He bowled an excellent 18th over where he gave only 5 runs and then closed out the game in the final over finishing with 2/25.

Mohammed Siraj, on the other hand, was criticized in the last few games for his inconsistency. But even he came to the party as he took 2/28. He was very good at the death complimenting Southee very well.

Hence, it was a collective effort from the RCB pace attack as they delivered in unison and helped RCB get a crucial win.