IPL 2020 Highlights, RR vs RCB Match, Full Cricket Score: AB de Villiers blitzkrieg takes Bangalore home with seven wickets in hand

Phew! What a chase! 

AB de Villiers arrived at the crease with 76 needed off 42 balls and he hit 55 of them from 22 balls with one four and six sixes. All through the innings the RCB batsmen were finding it difficult to get going. Padikkal struggled in the middle, Kohli could manage just one for and two sixes but then AB de Villiers batted on an altogether different wicket and pulled off a stunning win for RCB. That Unadkat 19th over which went for 25 runs was the turning point. May be Smith should have handed the penultimate over to Archer.

This IPL in death overs (16-20) so far:

Most runs scored : AB de Villiers (209)
Most 6s : AB de Villiers (18)

This is AB de Villiers’ 12th fifty in 25 balls or less – the joint most in IPL alongside David Warner.

SIX! AB de Villiers has done it! 

It’s full on middle and leg, AB de Villiers swings it over deep mid-wicket for a six to win the match in style. WHAT AN INNINGS and WHAT A PLAYER!

Archer to bowl the last over. 10 needed for RCB!

After 19 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 168/3 ( AB de Villiers (W) 47 , Gurkeerat Singh Mann 16)

What an over for RCB! Poor, poor bowling from Unadkat.
After two slower deliveries which are despatched over deep mid-wicket and long on for sixes respectively, Unadkat bowls one short and that too is dispatched for a six over deep square by AB de Villiers. Unadkat then goes very full outside off and AB de Villiers drives it to deep cover for a single. Unadkat then tries to bowl a short bouncer but it goes over the head of Gurkeerat for a wide. Unadkat then bowls another loose one outside off, Gurkeerat slashes it over extra cover for a four. Unadkat ends the over giving away a single. But he gave away 25 runs in that over. 10 runs needed off the last over.

FOUR! Unadkat is getting a proper hammering. Slower and short outside off, Gurkeerat slaps it over cover.

SIX! Three in a row. What superb hitting from RCB. Unadkat drops it short, De Villiers pulls it over deep square leg.

SIXES! AB de Villiers is doing it for RCB. Smashes a slower one from Unadkat over deep mid-wicket and then follows up with a massive six over wide long on for consecutive sixes.

After 18 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 143/3 ( AB de Villiers (W) 28 , Gurkeerat Singh Mann 11)

A very good over from Tyagi. He concentrated on bowling the yorkers and was unlucky with the De Villiers back of the bat edged four. Gurkeerat then sliced one to point where Unadkat got fingertips to it and saved a run. 10 runs off the over. 35 needed from 12 balls.

FOUR! Lucky! de Villiers looks to whip but gets the back of the bat and the edge flies over gully for four.

After 17 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 133/3 ( AB de Villiers (W) 22 , Gurkeerat Singh Mann 7)

What an eventful over that from Unadkat. He started off with three dots to Gurkeerat, then gave away a single. But then erred in line and drifted a wide one which is hit for a six. The very next ball, he nearly has De Villiers as he miscues the slower one but it falls in no man’s land as Unadkat chases it. In process they run through for a tight couple. 9 runs off the over. 45 needed from 18 balls.

AB de Villiers has hit 13 sixes in death overs this IPL – the second most by any batsman after a Rahul Tewatia.

Unadkat comes back into the attack….

After 16 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 124/3 ( AB de Villiers (W) 14 , Gurkeerat Singh Mann 6)

It was turning out to be a decent over from Archer. He was bowling yorker lengths and had given away four singles from first four balls. But then for some reason he dropped a slower short ball and De Villiers hammered it for a six. Archer finished with a dot to make it 10 runs off the over. 54 needed off 24 balls. This is gettable with de Villiers at the crease.

SIX! Hammered! After four good deliveries, Archer drops it slower and short, AB de Villiers pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

Archer back into the attack….

After 15 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 114/3 ( AB de Villiers (W) 6 , Gurkeerat Singh Mann 4)

RCB get 10 runs off that over. RR have given away too many extras. Gopal bowled a wide as well in that over. De Villiers cut one past backward point for three and then Gurkeerat flicked one wide of long on for a couple. 64 needed off 30 balls now.

Gopal back on….

After 14 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 104/3 ( AB de Villiers (W) 1 , Gurkeerat Singh Mann 0)

A very good over from Tyagi. He got Kohli off the first ball and then RR nearly had Gurkeerat when as there was a confusion between Tyagi and de Villiers but Archer at short third man missed his direct hit at the bowler’s end. Tyagi bowls a good yorker off the penultimate ball, De Villiers flicked it straight to square leg and ran a risky single, Uthappa missed the direct hit at tbe bowler’s end, replays showed a direct hit would have sent ABD back to pavilion. Just two runs off the over.

AB de Villiers v Gopal in IPL:

Runs – 25
Balls – 31
Dismissals – 4
Dots – 14

OUT! Kohli is gone! Tewatia in the action again. He pulls off these match-winning moments. This might be one of them. Brilliant catch to send back Kohli. Kohli whips a full delivery powerfully to deep mid-wicket, Tewatis moves to his right, catches the ball, realises that he’s lost his balance and going over the rope, pops the ball in the air and comes back inside to complete the catch. What an effort!

After 13 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 102/2 ( Virat Kohli (C) 43 , AB de Villiers (W) 0)

Kohli finally takes the aggressive route but RCB lose Padikkal in that over. Kohli chips one to long off, off the first ball but it goes on the bounce to the fielder. But off the third ball, he lofts one straight down the ground for a six. Tewatia bowls a wide but then comes back well to bowl a dot and take the wicket of Padikkal.

OUT! Tewatia gets the breakthrough! It’s a poor shot, a laboured shot. He was struggling with his energy out in the middle, this was short, Padikkal shaped for a pull but could only get the bottom of the bat and helps it straight into the hands of Stokes at long on.

SIX! Finally, Kohli opens up and lofts it straight down the ground off Tewatia.

Tewatia continues…

After 12 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 92/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 34 , Virat Kohli (C) 35)

A decent over from Kartik. Padikkal seems to be feeling he heat it seems. And Kohli running his twos isn’t making it easy for him. Kohli takes a couple of 2s off the first two balls and then takes a single. Kartik then gave away a wide off a slower bouncer down the leg side. But overall he varied his lengths well between full, yorker and short ball. 8 runs off the over.

86 needed off 48 balls at 10.75 runs an over.

Tyagi back into the attack now…

After 11 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 84/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 33 , Virat Kohli (C) 29)

Good change of lines and lengths from Tewatia. He concentrated on bowling wide to Padikkal and then dropped his lengths short to Kohli who kept using his feet. Tewatia drifted one down the leg side though and gave away a wide. But still, overall, a good over conceding just 7 runs off the over.

After 10 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 77/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 29 , Virat Kohli (C) 27)

Gopal nearly had Kohli in that over. There was good contest in that over. Gopal bowled well but erred off the last ball. Kohli nearly chopped on a googly and then mistimed his swipe to deep mid-wicket for a couple. Gopal dropped the last one short and Kohli wasn’t going to miss that, it deposited it into the stands over deep square leg. 13 runs off the over.

Gopal back into the attack

After 9 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 64/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 27 , Virat Kohli (C) 16)

An eventful over that. Padikkal went for a couple of slog sweeps off the first two balls but missed both. Tewatia then over steps and gives away a single off that ball. He then bowls a full toss which Kohli hits straight to long on for just a single. Padikkal takes a couple off the next ball before Tewatia looses his control and bowls three wides in a row. Tewatia then nearly has Padikkal who goes for a slog sweep but gets a top edge which falls short of fine leg. Tewatia is not happy with Uthappa’s effort. Tewatia ends with a dot to Kohli. 9 runs off the over.

After 8 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 55/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 23 , Virat Kohli (C) 15)

Unadkat bowls another decent over. He mixed his pace well and nearly had Padikkal in that over. A faster one beat Padikkal’s outside edge and then a slow slower slowest bouncer was nearly helped into the hands of short third man. Padikkal had to wait for a eternity for the ball to reach him. Kohli then charged down the track off the final ball and looked to loft it over the off side but was beaten. Just 4 runs off the over. RCB need to accelerate now.

Unadkat continues….

After 7 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 51/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 21 , Virat Kohli (C) 13)

A good over from Tewatia, he was accurate and bowled at a decent pace. Paddikal went for a big one off the fourth ball but was late onto the shot and got an outside edge which fell well short of the deep cover fielder. Just four runs off the over.

Rahul Tewatia into the attack now

After 6 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 47/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 19 , Virat Kohli (C) 11)

A decent over from Unadkat. He concentrated on bowling mainly cutters. Kohli used his feet to the left-arm pacer. Took a couple of twos and hit a four over mid on. Kohli and the twos are back again!

FOUR! Kohli gets going. It’s a cutter on good length area, Kohli charges down and whips it wide and over mid on for four.

Jaydev Unadkat into the attack now…

After 5 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 39/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 19 , Virat Kohli (C) 3)

Tyagi didn’t quite get his lines right in that over. He sprayed one well outside off for a wide and then drifted a short one down the leg side and Padikkal pulled it to fine leg for a four. The next ball, Padikkal played a nice little delicate late cut wide of short third man for back to back fours. Singles off the last two balls made it 12 runs off the over.

FOURS! Good stuff from Padikkal. Pulls a short one down the leg side from Tyagi to fine leg fence and then guides one wide of short third man for back to back fours.

Kartik Tyagi into the attack…

After 4 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 27/1 ( Devdutt Padikkal 10 , Virat Kohli (C) 1)

A successful over for Gopal and RR. He induced an outside edge off a cut off Padikkal but the Keeper couldn’t hold on to a tough catch. But Gopal got Finch off the next ball and gave away just 5 runs in the over. He looked to flight the ball which is thee right way to go on this track for the spinners.

Kohli v Gopal in IPL:

Runs : 35
Balls : 23
Dismissals : 3
SR : 152.17

OUT! Gopal strikes! It’s a nicely flighted delivery outside off, Finch gets down for a swing across the line but is done in by the flight. The ball goes straight on and Finch gets a top edge high up in the air, Uthappa settles under it and takes a good catch.

After 3 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 22/0 ( Devdutt Padikkal 6 , Aaron Finch 14)

Good contest between Finch and Archer. Archer, after being hit for a six off the first ball, cuts Finch into half off the next ball and then a ball later, beats his outside edge off an expansive drive. But Finch ends the over with lovely lofted six over long off. Archer ramped up speeds around 150 clicks an hour in that over.

Spinners to dismiss Finch this IPL:

Shreyas Gopal
Ravi Bishnoi 
M Ashwin 
Axar Patel
Abhishek Sharma

SIX! That’s HUGE! Short from Archer, Finch swivels and pulls it over deep square leg, into the second tier of the stands.

After 2 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 9/0 ( Devdutt Padikkal 5 , Aaron Finch 2)

Gopal started off with a couple of balls on the pads off the first three balls, 3 runs were taken off them. But he then corrected his lines and bowled intelligently with variations of speed and trajectory. Just 5 runs off it.

Finch v Archer before this match in T20s:

Runs – 109
Balls – 83
Dismissals – 3
Dots – 38

Shreyas Gopal will share the new ball…

After 1 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 4/0 ( Devdutt Padikkal 1 , Aaron Finch 2)

Archer right on the money in the opening over. He got a hint of swing off the first ball which was a yorker outside off and Padikkal failed to guide it to the off side. Padikkal then steered one to third man to get off the mark. Archer then beat Finch with a beautiful outswinger. There was a slight blip when Archer drifted one down the leg side for a wide. Four runs off the over.

Jofra Archer’s economy rate of 4.71 in PP overs this IPL is the lowest among bowlers who have bowled more than two overs in PP overs this IPL.

RR post 177/6!

Smith’s half century and handy contributions from Uthappa at the top (41 off 22) and Tewatia at the death (19 off 11) propel RR to 177/6. The wicket is slightly slow and this could prove to be a competitive total for RR. Morris was brilliant for RCB at the start and death with four wickets. While Chahal was excellent in the middle overs.

After 20 overs,Rajasthan Royals 177/6 ( Rahul Tewatia 19)

An excellent final over from Morris. After massive last two overs, he takes the wicket of Smith and gives away just 4 runs and took two wickets which involved the wicket of Archer as well off the last ball. RR finish on 177/6.

OUT! Morris traps Archer LBW! It’s an inswinging yorker, right on the money. Archer looks to dig it out but is beaten by the pace and movement in the air. Gets trapped right in front. The umpire lifts his finger. Archer opts for a review but it shows all three reds.

OUT! Brilliant catch from Shahbaz Ahmed. Smith slashes a length delivery outside off from Morris, doesn’t get it off the middle. Ahmed at deep point runs to his right and back, dives and pouches an excellent catch. Smith departs for 57 off 36 balls. A very good innings from the captain.

After 19 overs,Rajasthan Royals 173/4 ( Steven Smith (C) 57 , Rahul Tewatia 18)

Tewatia helping Smith out from the other end. He improvised well and hit a couple of boundaries on the leg side. One for a six and one for a four. A couple of twos and a single made it 15 runs off the over. This is good stuff from Smith and Tewatia.

FOUR! Tewatia gets down and laps it wide of short fine leg off Udana. Good improvisation…

SIX! Tewatia joins the party. Shuffles a tad and flicks it over deep mid-wicket with power.

Udana back into the attack….

After 18 overs,Rajasthan Royals 158/4 ( Steven Smith (C) 56 , Rahul Tewatia 4)

What a brilliant over for Rajasthan Royals. Full credit to Smith. He unsettled Chahal with his reverse sweeps. And Chahal too erred with his front foot no balls which proved costly. Three fours off the over. Two off reverse sweeps and one down the ground, all by Smith. 19 runs off the over.

NO BALL! FOUR! 3rd of the over! Smith at his innovative best. Reverse sweeps it over point for a four. And Oh dear! Chahal has overstepped again!

NO BALL! FOUR! FIFTY for Smith! It’s all happening! Smith charges down the track and lofts it to long on. It’s straight and out of the reach of the fielder. To add salt to wounds, Chahal has overstepped. Off the FreeHit ball, Smith slog sweeps it straight into the hands of deep mdi-wicket. They get a single.

FOUR! Innovative from Smith. Gets down and reverse Sweeps it over point off Chahal for a four.

Chahal back into the attack

After 17 overs,Rajasthan Royals 139/4 ( Steven Smith (C) 41 , Rahul Tewatia 3)

Good stuff from Saini. Not giving the batsmen anything full. He’s hit the hard lengths and made it a little uneasy for the batsmen to hit. A ricochet off the stumps allowed RR a couple off the second ball rest all the scoring shots were singles. Saini pitched them up slightly off the last two and changed the pace to slower one off the last ball which was driven for a single to mid off by Smith. 6 runs off the over. A very good one at this juncture.

Saini is back into the attack…

After 16 overs,Rajasthan Royals 133/4 ( Steven Smith (C) 37 , Rahul Tewatia 1)

A mixed over for RCB, 14 runs and a wicket off it. But RCB and Morris will take it, given the fact that they got the wicket of the dangerous Buttler at a crucial stage. Morris was hit for a six off the first ball by Smith but then he bounced back to take the wicket of Buttler. Smith then guided one past short third man for a four before a couple of singles off the last two balls made it 14 off the over.

Meanwhile, Rahul Tewatia has arrived at the crease….

FOUR! Nicely played from Smith. Back of a length delivery outside off from Morris, Smith waits and guides it with a bit of an outside edge wide of short third man.

OUT! Morris breaks the stand again. Buttler departs. It’s a back of a length delivery outside off, Buttler looks to hammer it over mid off, but doesn’t connect it well. It loops in the air, Saini settles under it and pouches it without any fuss. It’s a HUGE wicket for RCB at this juncture.

SIX! WowWow! It’s full outside off from Morris, Smith swings it across the line and heaves it over deep square leg for a massive six.

Morris is back on…

After 15 overs,Rajasthan Royals 119/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 25 , Jos Buttler (W) 24)

Udana somehow hasn’t got his lines and lengths right today. He bowled a couple of short and wide deliveries outside off and Smith dispatched them for fours. Udana concentrated on bowling only cutters in that over. 3 more singles made it 11 off the over.

FOURS! Not where you would want to bowl to Smith. Slower short delivery outside off, Smith chases and slashes it over point for a boundary. Udana repeats the same mistake, looks to bowl a short cutter from outside off from round the wicket, Smith slashes and gets a thick outside edge over short third man for consecutive fours.

Isuru Udana back into the attack

After 14 overs,Rajasthan Royals 108/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 15 , Jos Buttler (W) 23)

Saini focused on hitting hard lengths in that over – good and back of a length. He also generated decent pace around 140. Didn’t give much room to the batsmen and restricted them mainly to singles. Off the second ball of the over, Smith and Buttler ran well for a couple to deep cover. 5 runs off the over.

Saini back into the attack

After 13 overs,Rajasthan Royals 103/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 13 , Jos Buttler (W) 20)

After being hit for four fours in his last over, Sundar comes back well to concede 7 runs from the over. He looked to bowl it flat with pace but then slowed it down at the fag end of the over. A couple of 2s and three singles off the over. Smith and Buttler are looking to be busy in the middle. But they would look to score at least one boundary per over from now on.

Washington Sundar back into the attack…

After 12 overs,Rajasthan Royals 96/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 7 , Jos Buttler (W) 19)

Another very good over from Chahal. He is looking to bowl it slow and wide outside off. JP Duminy had said in the pitch report that giving the ball air will be the key on this track. Chahal, after bowling four loopy deliveries bowls a quicker one which spins away with pace and beats Buttler. Smith, then, gets done in by the flight and top edges his flick which falls safely to deep mid-wicket for a single. Just 5 runs off the over.

After 11 overs,Rajasthan Royals 91/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 5 , Jos Buttler (W) 17)

The two batsmen using their feet to unsettle Ahmed. Off the third ball, Buttler charged down the track and clobbered it over long off for a six. 5 singles more in the over made it 11 off the over. With Buttler in the middle, RR won’t get bogged down despite quick wickets.

SIX! Powerful shot. Buttler charges down the track, converts it into a full delivery off Ahmed and hammers it over long off.

Ahmed continues…

After 10 overs,Rajasthan Royals 80/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 3 , Jos Buttler (W) 8)

Chahal is accurate as ever. And he’s getting some turn as well. He’s flighting them well. There were a couple of very loopy ones in that over. Buttler played a dot and then mistimed his reverse sweep to deep point for a single. Smith took a couple of singles. Four off the over. Good stuff from the leg spinner.

Chahal continues….

it’s the strategic break!

After 9 overs,Rajasthan Royals 76/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 1 , Jos Buttler (W) 6)

That lovely four off the fourth ball from Buttler would have provided some relief for RR. Ahmed looked to bowl it a bit quicker. Buttler swept one for two and then drove one through covers for a four. Smith took a single off the first ball. 7 runs off the over.

FOUR! Lovely timing and placement. A tad overpitched, Buttler drives it through cover and it races away.

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed into the attack now

After 8 overs,Rajasthan Royals 69/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 0 , Jos Buttler (W) 0)

Time and again Kohli’s go-to man Chahal brings RCB back into the games. He’s done it again. An over where he was hit for a six off the first ball from Samson, he ends it 7 runs and two wickets. The change of pace and trajectory doing the trick against Uthappa and Samson. RR are pegged back at 69/3 with two new batsmen at the crease.

Chahal doesn’t get the hat-trick. But it’s a very good ball. Pushes it a bit quicker outside off and goes straight on. A cautious Buttler leaves it alone.

Jos Buttler is the new batsman…

Sanju Samson this IPL:

First two matches: 159 runs
Next six matches: 68 runs

OUT! Two in two for Chahal. It’s a typical Chahal delivery. A dangled carrot to Samson. He gives it air and tosses it up wide outside off, Samson is enticed into his shot, he is done in by the flight though. He reaches out for the loft but doesn’t connect it well. Helps it straight into the hands of Morris at long off. Chahal is on a hat-trick now.

OUT! Chahal gets the dangerman! Kohli’s go-to man has done the job. Gives it a bit of air outside off, Uthappa gets down for a slog sweep, doesn’t connect it off the middle and hands it straight into the hands of Finch at deep square leg. Uthappa gone for 41 off 22 balls.

SIX! What a welcome to the crease for Chahal. Samson gets down and clobbers it over mid-wicket for a humongous six.

Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack now

After 7 overs,Rajasthan Royals 62/1 ( Robin Uthappa 41 , Sanju Samson 2)

Good to see Uthappa continuing the momentum and not getting bogged down. He hit two boundaries off that Saini over. One over cover and one over mid-wicket off a pull. He seems really confident at the crease. There were a couple of singles as well. Saini dropped the last one a tad short outside off, Uthappa looked to guide it to third man but missed. 10 runs off the over.

FOURS! The wicket of Stokes hasn’t affected Uthappa. He comes down the track and carts one over covers off Saini and then pulls the next one over mid-wicket for back-to-back fours.

Saini continues…

After 6 overs,Rajasthan Royals 52/1 ( Robin Uthappa 32 , Sanju Samson 1)

A very good over from Morris. He tried to mix it up nicely with yorker and slower ball. The slower ball got him the wicket of Stokes. That Stokes ball held onto the surface which shows that the track is on the slower side. 5 Runs off the over and a wicket as well.RCB would be relieved with that wicket in the last over of the Powerplay. Still, a good Powerplay for RR. Stokes was limping a bit as he left for Pavilion.

OUT! Morris breaks the opening stand. Stokes will be disappointed with that shot. It’s a slower bouncer down the leg side. Stokes goes for a pull but seems to be late on it, gets an edge to the keeper who accepts an easy catch. Stokes departs for 15 off 19 balls.

Chris Morris comes back into the attack…

After 5 overs,Rajasthan Royals 48/0 ( Robin Uthappa 31 , Ben Stokes 13)

Both the openers seem to have decided they are going to attack. Stokes is moving around in his crease, giving himself room. While Uthappa is staying still and looking to go over the top. Stokes got a four off a pull shot off the second ball off the over from Saina. While Uthapa again looked to go over mid on but didn’t connect it well and it looped just over the backpeddling mid on fielder’s head for a couple. 9 runs off the over.

FOUR! Stokes joins the boundary feast, a touch short from Saini, Stokes pulls it over mid-wicket for a four.

After 4 overs,Rajasthan Royals 38/0 ( Robin Uthappa 28 , Ben Stokes 7)

Another brilliant over for RR. 17 from it. Uthappa looks in the mood. Stokes started the over streakily with an outside edge four over short third man. Udana didn’t get his lines right in that over and then Uthappa took charge to hit a four and a six off the last two balls. Udana was too leg-sidish and bowled a couple of wides as well.

FOUR and SIX! Uthappa is on fire. He lofts Udana over mid on for a four and then plays the same shot but with a bit more timing and power to clear the rope.

FOUR! Edgy! Stokes looks to swing it across the line, gives it all but gets an outside edge which flies over and wide of the short third man fielder.

Isuru Udana into the attack now…

After 3 overs,Rajasthan Royals 21/0 ( Robin Uthappa 18 , Ben Stokes 2)

What a brilliant over for RR. Uthappa improvised really well to unsettle Washington Sundar. Sundar didn’t do too much wrong but Uthappa dismantled him with the sweeps. Four fours in the over and two dots. The first four was a lovely cover drive from Uthappa off an overpitched delivery and rest three were sweeps and slog sweeps.

FOUR! And another one. 4th of the over. He Uthappa sits down and slog sweeps it over backward square leg.

FOUR! 3rd of the over, this is good improvisation from Uthappa, he gets down and slog sweeps it behind square leg for another four.

FOURS! Sundar overpitches and Uthappa drives it through covers. Uthappa then gets down the second ball and sweeps it behind square.

Washington Sundar continues…

After 2 overs,Rajasthan Royals 5/0 ( Robin Uthappa 2 , Ben Stokes 2)

Morris starts off well and got a nice shape going in his first over. Just 3 runs off it.

Stokes looked at using his feet straightaway to Morris. He walked down the track and crunched one but straight to cover and then again walked down the pitch and flicked it to mid-wicket for a single. Morris then beat Uthappa with a lovely outswinger. After a dot, he bowled a slower one, Uthappa tucked it to the leg side for a quick single. He missed his mark off the next ball for a leg side wide. He ended the over really well shaping it wide as Stokes charged down the track, it was almost out of reach of Stokes who was also beaten by the pace. The England international left it alone.

Chris Morris will share the new ball with Sundar.

After 1 overs,Rajasthan Royals 2/0 ( Robin Uthappa 1 , Ben Stokes 1)

A very good first over from Sundar. He was on the mark and bowled it flat and with decent pace. Good start after going for a few against KXIP.
Uthappa straightaway got off the mark with a single to long on off the first ball. Washington then bowled three dots in a row to Stokes. Stokes also finally got off the mark with a push to long off for a single.  Before Sundar ended with a dot to end the over.

RR have lost 16 wickets in PP overs this year – the most among all the teams so far.

RR v RCB in IPL:

Matches played : 22
RR won : 10
RCB won : 9
NR : 2

Well, well, we have a new opening pair again for RR. Robin Uthappa has walked out to bat with Ben Stokes. Jos Buttler isn’t opening!

Rajasthan Royals need to up the ante big time in this match. They are languishing second from the bottom with just six points and with the way RCB are playing, it’s going to take a hell lot of effort to get those two points on the board.

Head to head:

There’s not much to choose between the two sides when it comes to head to head. In the 21 encounters, RCB have won 10, while RR have won 9 with 2 ending in No Result.

Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Shahbaz Ahmed, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals XI: Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Steven Smith, Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi

Team Changes:

“It’s a day game and we like to bat in day games,” Smith says. The captain informs that RR have gone unchanged. “It looks like the wickets have worn down a bit and slowing down and that’s one of the reason why we are batting today,” he says.

Virat Kohli says they would have batted first as well. Two changes for RCB. Gurkeerat Mann and Shahbaz Ahmed come in for Mohammad Siraj and Shivam Dube.

Toss: RR have won the toss and elected to bat.

When they met last time

The two teams met earlier in the tournament and it was a pretty lop sided contest with RCB thumping RR by 8 wickets. RR posted 154/6 and in reply, Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli hit half-centuries to breeze through past the finish line.

Pitch report: The ground seems to be very deceptive in terms of the dimensions. It tends to be a bit slower in the day games. JP Duminy says that it looks a very good surface. It’s just the second day game on this surface. The spinners will be crucial on this ground. Duminy believes that the spinners need to toss the ball up on this surface.

Also, if you missed it. Pakistan pacer Umar Gul has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He will call it a day after the end of the ongoing National T20 Cup.

RCB, on the other hand, would be looking to get back to winning ways and move up the table from the third position. It’s been a good start to the tournament for Kohli’s boys after a disappointing 2019 season. They have looked strong all-round and the biggest plus has been the fact that their bowling has clicked.

What Rajasthan Royals also need is support from the other end for Jofra Archer who’s been fantastic so far in the tournament. Someone like Jaydev Unadkat needs to step up or may be Varun Aaron if he is included in the side. With the pitches getting slow, the roles of Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal will become crucial.

Rajasthan Royals would be hoping that their top order clicks. Steve Smith hasn’t fired in this tournament so far, while Jos Buttler too has been inconsistent. It will be interesting to see whether Ben Stokes will again open today or RR will push him down to provide solidity in the middle order.

Check out the two squads:

RCB: Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Gurkeerat Mann, Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Adam Zampa, Dale Steyn, Isuru Udana, Moeen Ali, Pawan Negi, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Pavan Deshpande, Parthiv Patel, Joshua Philippe, Shahbaz Ahmad.

RR: Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Mahipal Lomror, Manan Vohra, Riyan Parag, Robin Uthappa, David Miller, Ankit Rajpoot, Mayank Markande, Shreyas Gopal, Varun Aaron, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi, Akash Singh, Oshane Thomas, Andrew Tye, Rahul Tewatia, Shashank Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Anirudha Joshi, Tom Curran, Sanju Samson, Anuj Rawat.

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma is happy that his team lived up to the expectations with its clinical showing in both batting and bowling, which culminated to an eight-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders for its fifth straight victory in the IPL. He also said that the trend in IPL 2020 is changing and the teams chasing totals will find themselves winning contests, which was not the case in the first half of the tournament. 

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“Unlike several fellow cricketers, this is a man with varied interests and a world view. He understands complex issues, he revels in problem solving. This is a man who has lived a life of grace and dignity, a man who likes to quietly help people if he can, a man whose counsel if sought will never be tired clichés but a considered, valuable input.”

On Anil Kumble’s 50th birthday today, Gaurav Kalra writes on India’s spin legend and former Test captain.

Click here to read the full piece.

After some inexplicable decisions in their eight-wicket loss to Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore would aim for course correction when they take on an erratic Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match on Saturday.

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Hello and welcome to coverage of Match 33 of IPL 2020 between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore to be played at Dubai. RCB have been a improved side this season but they are coming into this game after suffering a eight-wicket loss against KXIP. The loss was a wake up call for the Virat Kohli-led side to up their game as the contest begins to get tougher. On the other side, Rajasthan have been very inconsistent and against Bangalore, would be aiming a win to stay afloat in the tournament.

Check our blog for more updates as we build up to the match.