Dubai, Sep 29: Dubai, Sep 29 (PTI) Royal Challengers Bangalore dished out a clinical display with both bat and ball to record a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday, boosting their prospects of a top-two finish.
Chasing 150, RCB completed the task with as many as 17 balls to spare. Star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell blazed away to an unbeaten 50 off just 30 balls, while Srikar Bharat played sensibly for his 44 off 35 deliveries.
RCB needed 71 runs in the last 10 after the RR bowlers checked the flow of runs following the dismissals of Virat Kohli (25) and Devdutt Padikkal (22).
Kohli and Padikkal gave the team a brisk start as RCB scored nine runs per over in the power play. However, both got out after settling down with Kohli falling to a fine direct hit by Riyan Parag after he had made a diving stop.
Earlier, RCB staged an excellent comeback as Rajasthan Royals blew away a blistering start to finish at 149 for nine. Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed (2/10) and leg-break bowler Yuzvendra Chahal (2/18) triggered the slide after RR were cruising at 100 for one in the 11th over.
Pacer Harshal Patel came close to picking a hat-trick in successive matches, in the final over, but Kartik Tyagi denied him that as RR lost eight wickets for 49 runs.
Evin Lewis top-scored with 58 off 37 balls, but was guilty of throwing away his wicket at a crucial juncture, and so was skipper Sanju Samson (19).
From eight for two in two overs, RR were cruising at 39 for no loss at the end of fourth before racing past the fifty-run mark in the next over, with Lewis being the aggressor.
Lewis hammered a six and a four against Harshal Patel, as RR crossed the fifty in the fifth over.
However, the Royals lost the plot sometime later, the slide starting with the wicket of Mahipal Lomror off Chahal. (PTI)
