2.5 overs of madness: How Smith and Faulkner destroyed RCB

Up till the 16th over, the entire Chinnaswamy Stadium was basking in glory of Yuvraj Singh's return to form. The left-hander had blasted 83 off 38 balls and taken four wickets. But what followed was massacre and the RCB fans were left shell-shocked. RR required 65 off 24 balls, not many would have given them a chance to win, but with Faulkner and Smith at the crease there was hope.

Faulkner had done it before against India at Mohali last year. Australia required 44 off the last three overs and Faulkner played a blinder, he hit Ishant Sharma for 30 runs in the 48th over and powered Australia past the finish line with three balls to spare. Smith's big hitting abilities too made sure that RR had a slim chance but 65 off 24 was still tough.

James Faulkner of the Rajatshan Royals and Steven Smith of the Rajatshan Royals celebrate the win during match 35 of the Pepsi Indian Premier League Season 2014 between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Rajasthan Royals. BCCI

Faulkner and Smith just went berserk and powered RR to a victory with seven balls to spare. Here's the ball-ball account of the last 2.5 overs of carnage.

The 17th over is bowled by Mitchell Starc.

16.1 - Smith slices it wide of third man, they scamper through for a single. Faulkner wants a second but Smith sends him back.

16.2 - Faulkner backs away, looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge to third man, they take a quick couple.

16.3 - WIDE! Faulkner again backs away, Starc tries to bring in variations but ends up bowling a slower wide delivery outside off.

16.3 - FOUR! It's full outside off, Faulkner goes hard at it and slices it over point for a boundary.

16.4 - FOUR! A lucky boundary. Faulkner goes for a wild swing across the line but gets an outside edge to third man for a streaky boundary.

16.5 - WIDE! Starc is a bit rattled and tries variations again, ends up bowling a slower bouncer, Faulkner misses his pull. It's signaled a wide.

16.5 - SIX! Faulkner finally connects one off the middle, it's a length ball of off and Faulkner heaves it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

16.6 - Starc comes from over the wicket again, delivers it full outside off, Faulkner gives himself room and looks to cart it over covers but ends up miscuing it over point. They take a couple.

That made it 21 runs off the Starc over. RR now require 44 from 18 balls.

Ashoke Dinda was handed over the ball to bowl the 18th over.

17.1 - SIX! Smith shuffles across and lofts a full delivery outside off over long off.

17.2 - FOUR! Smith again shuffles and whips a full delivery with extreme power through mid-wicket for a boundary.

17.3 - FOUR! This time Smith doesn't shuffle, it's full outside off, Smith cleverly squeezes it wide of point and it races away to the fence.

17.4 - Relief for Dinda as Smith moves across and manages to drive it to long on for just a single.

17.5 - Faulkner looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge to third man for just a single.

17.6 - NO BALL! SIX! Dinda commits the cardinal sin of overstepping. It's full and wide outside off, Smith shuffles and thumps it straight back over Dinda's head. A Free Hit coming up

17.6 - Dot ball - It's very full outside off, smith drills it but straight to extra cover, Smith wants a single but is sent back.

23 runs off the Dinda over. RR now require 21 from 12 balls.

Varun Aaron is handed over the reins of bowling the penultimate over.

18.1 - It's full and wide outside off, Faulkner drives it to deep cover for just a single.

18.2 - TWO WIDES! Faulkner shuffles across, force Aaron to err in line, Aaron bowls it way outside leg, Fulkner misses his paddle. Parthiv dives and makes half a stop. They take a single.

18.2 - SIX! Hammered! It's a length delivery on off, Faulkner just clobbers it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Kohli looks in disbelief. The entire RR dug-out is ecstatic.

18.3 - This one is short outside off, Faulkner pulls it wide of long on for a couple.

18.4 - FOUR! Terrific placement. Low full toss outside off, Faulkner smashes it through point and it whizzes away to the fence.

6 runs needed off 8 balls.

18.5 - SIX! Faulkner finishes it off in style. The entire RR camp is going berserk. Faulkner runs towards Smith and embraces him both are on the ground in elation. Kohli is shell shocked. RR win by 5 wickets with seven balls to spare.

21, 23, 21 off three overs, it was madness and RR had pulled off a heist!