Preview: The last time Virat Kohli and Steve Smith clashed with each other was the recently-concluded India-Australia Test series, and now both will be aiming to stem the rot when Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on Smith’s Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) tie here on Sunday. Both the franchises have lost three out of their four games and would be eager to plug the holes as momentum can quickly shift in a high-paced T20 cricket tournament like the IPL. Despite Kohli’s return from injury with a stylish half century and a hat-trick from leg-spinner Samuel Badree, RCB went down to Mumbai Indians in a low-scoring affair on Friday while Pune were simply outplayed by Gujarat Lions on the same day. [caption id=“attachment_3387250” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, the two captains. Sportzpics[/caption] Kohli’s 62 off 47 balls is also an indicator of the bigger and better things that can be expected from the India captain. The 28-year-old had also stitched together the highest opening stand of 63 runs with out-of-touch Chris Gayle (22), followed by a 47-run stand with AB de Villiers (19), who also came in after recovering from an injury. The hosts may however, rethink on their strategy of playing Gayle, who was seen struggling during his 27-ball knock and may go in with Shane Watson, who can also be handy with his medium pace. The middle order comprising Kedar Jadhav, Madeep Singh and Pawan Negi can also be expected to step on the gas in the slog overs, specially against a weaker bowling line-up like Pune. In the bowling department, Badree will be keen to replicate his superb show along side fellow leggie Yuzvendra Chahal and pace duo of Tymal Mills and Sreenath Aravind. On the other hand, Pune will be expecting former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to get his vintage touch back, specially after getting out with another single digit score on Friday. If Pune are to win the contest, the top order – Ajinkya Rahane, Smith, Rahul Tripathi and million dollar boy Ben Stokes – will need to shoulder the responsibility of getting the side a good total. While Rahane failed in the previous match, Smith and Rahul looked good during their 64-run second wicket stand before the team fell apart against Gujarat Lions’ pacer Andrew Tye’s magical spell of 5/17, including a hat-trick in the final over. Pune’s fate also lies on South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who was clobbered all around the park by the Gujarat duo of Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith. Before Friday’s match, Tahir successfully delivered whenever the ball was thrown to him by Smith. Veteran all-rounder Rajat Bhatia with his cutters, can return a handful on Sunday, considering the slowish nature of the wicket here. With IANS inputs.
Highlights IPL 2017 RCB vs RPS in Bengaluru, cricket scores and results: RPS pull off 27-run win
Caatch all the live scores and updates from Match 17 of IPL 2017 between RCB and RPS from the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.
 "Highlights IPL 2017 RCB vs RPS in Bengaluru, cricket scores and results: RPS pull off 27-run win")
That’s it from us on our coverage of the second of the Sunday double-header! Thank you all so much for joining in. Do tune in tomorrow for another double-header — Delhi Daredevils hosting Kolkata Knight Riders at the Kotla, with Sunrisers Hydebad taking on Kings XI Punjab in the second game,
On behalf of my team, I, Amit Banerjee, bid you good night for now!
Most bowled dismissals in an IPL match:
9 RCB v KXIP,Bangalore,2015
9 RCB v KXIP,Bangalore,2017
8 RCB v DD,Bangalore,2017
AB de Viliiers on the mike said that 200 is what he expected on this wicket. Eventually, it seems the players and pundits alike had mis read the pitch. High number of batters bowled shows how difficult it was to time the slower balls. 160 finally proved enough, and RPS keep themselves alive in the tournament.
161 runs defended by RPS today is the lowest total defended by any team against RCB at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. The previous lowest was 165 by KKR in 2012
This is the first match RPS have won in IPL while batting first. Before this match, they lost nine matches while batting first.
Lowest totals defended v RCB at Bangalore in IPL:
161 by RPS in 2017
165 by KKR in 2012
178 by CSK in 2008
Pune's bowlers were fantastic, but don't forget Manoj Tiwary's knock which gave his team hopes of a win
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 16, 2017
Must admit read pitch wrong. In the context Pune's all round show quite superb. Misery mounts for B'lore. 2 games at home lost in succession
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 16, 2017
After 20 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 134/9 ( Sreenath Aravind 6 , Yuzvendra Chahal 1)
Stokes bowls the last over of the RCB innings. Aravind fails to connect in the first two balls while looking to go for the big shots, getting a bye in the second ball. Milne loses his off-stump in the third ball, which brings Chahal to the crease, and gets off the mark with a single in the first ball that he faces. Just a single for Aravind in the fifth ball, with Chahal meekly defending in the last ball. Stokes finishes with figures of 3/18 from four overs.
Rising Pune Supergiant defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 27 runs! It also happens to be the lowest total ever defended at the M Chinnaswamy by a visiting team!
OUT! Stokes now hits Milne’s off-stump. Looked like another slow ball, with Milne bringing up bat down in the shot a little too quickly, missing the inside-edge and paying the price as a result. RCB 132/9
Adam Milne b Stokes 2(3)
After 19 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 131/8 ( Adam Milne 2 , Sreenath Aravind 5)
Terrific penultimate over by Unadkat, skittling Badree’s middle-stump while conceding just 6 off it (without a single boundary). Pune just one over away from a win now!
Samuel Badree b Unadkat 0(1)
After 18 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 125/7 ( Adam Milne 1 , )
Thakur to bowl the 18th over. Couple of runs in the first ball after Negi miscues towards the backward square-leg region, where it lands just beyond Tahir. SIX! Negi makes room for himself, and hammers it towards the long-off boundary for a flat one! Negi looks to go big towards the leg side next ball, but gets a top-edge after a change of pace by Thakur. Terrific effort by Stokes in the next ball, Binny slogs the fourth ball towards the long-on boundary, where Stokes grabs hold of the ball, and throws it back in in the last moment. Thakur ends his spell by castling Binny’s middle stump!
RCB need 37 off 12 balls.
Well pace off the ball has been the formula for RPS from day one of this tournament, but the personnel have been different. After playing three spinners last game, they have used four pace bowlers in this one. But all four have been fantastic with their slower balls, and that’s the reason why RPS are in a winning position.
OUT! Negi miscues a slower ball from Thakur, getting caught by Tripathi near the square-leg boundary. That’s the second wicket for Thakur! RCB 123/6
Pawan Negi c Tripathi b Thakur 11(7)
After 17 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 115/5 ( Stuart Binny 17 , Pawan Negi 2)
Dan Christian, who has been quite economical so far in the innings, is introduced in the 17th over. SIX! Binny now gets his first six by pulling a slower ball from Christian towards the spectators beyond the square-leg boundary. Looks like the spectators aren’t giving the ball back, forcing the umpire to call for a change of ball. Top-edge off Binny’s bat in the last ball of the over. Christian had given away 13 runs in the three overs so far, and ends up conceding as many in his final over.
RCB need 47 off 18 balls.
After 16 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 102/5 ( Stuart Binny 6 , Pawan Negi 0)
Stokes into his third over. FOUR! First boundary in 11 overs, and it is Binny who finally gets it. Watson hammers the third ball of the over towards extra cover, before getting his middle-stump uprooted by the all-rounder in the penultimate delivery, bringing Pawan Negi to the centre. 10 runs and a crucial wicket in this over.
RCB need 60 off 24 balls.
BOWLED EM! After getting struck for two boundaries, Stokes finally pulls back by getting rid of Watson! The all-rounder fires a slower one along the middle-stump line this time, with the ball staying low to get Watson’s inside-edge, ultimately rattling timber. RCB in deep, deep trouble right now. RCB 101/5
Shane Watson b Stokes 14(18)
After 15 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 92/4 ( Shane Watson 10 , Stuart Binny 1)
Unadkat too returns. starts off with a couple of slower balls, before bowling a bouncer that is called a wide for being too high. The pressure of getting a boundary gets the better of Jadhav ends up playing the slower ball onto his leg-stump. Stuart Binny is the new man at the crease, and gets off the mark with a single off the last ball. Five runs and a wicket off this over.
RCB need 70 off 30 balls.
BOWLED EM! Jadhav comes down the ground, and gets an inside-edge onto his leg stump! Pressure of getting a desperately-needed boundary got the better of him, and he was done in by the slower ball from Unadkat, who thanks the heavens for the timely wicket. RCB 91/4
Kedar Jadhav b Unadkat 18(22)
Critical spell from Imran Tahir. After being taken for 50 runs in four overs in the last game, Tahir and RPS will both be happy to see him return to strike bowler status. Required run rate above 11 now. No fours for the last 56 balls, say the comms. With spin being hard to get away, will Smith be tempted to use Chahar in the last six?
After 14 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 87/3 ( Kedar Jadhav (W) 17 , Shane Watson 8)
Thakur back into the attack, with the pressure now starting to get the better of RCB. Watson pulls the second ball of the voer towards the wide long-on boundary, where Stokes saves a couple of runs for the visitors. Watson tries swinging his bat in the next three balls, but fails to connect on each occasion. Gets a single off the last ball to retain the strike. Just one six and no fours in the last 10 overs of RCB’s innings!
RCB need 75 off 36 balls.
Lowest SRs for AB de Villiers in an IPL match: (Min.30 balls)
93.75 v MI at Dubai in 2014
96.67 v RPS at Bangalore in 2017*
105.56 v MI at Bangalore in 2011
After 13 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 83/3 ( Kedar Jadhav (W) 16 , Shane Watson 5)
Tahir into his final over, and keeps it tight, giving away just five singles off the over. That the two batsmen at the crease are scoring at a rate below 100 is a worrying sign for the home side. Full credit to Tahir and Christian for a tight spell that has kept RCB under check. The umpire signals for the second timeout at the end of this over.
RCB need 79 off 42 balls.
@msdhoni never seems to miss a stumping and is faster than anyone I have seen at the craft! Still a champ! #RCBvRPS
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 16, 2017
ABD's wicket could be massive factor in this match...
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 16, 2017
Struggle against spin & cutters by B'lore batsmen puts pitch in perspective: 170 should be daunting score too so Pune didnt bat too badly
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 16, 2017
That MSD stumping was an event. That's what he brings to the IPL. #RCBvRPS
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 16, 2017
After 12 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 78/3 ( Kedar Jadhav (W) 13 , Shane Watson 3)
Christian into his third over. Starts off with a wide. Miscue by Jadhav in the second delivery, though it lands safely near mid-on. Five singles follow, as the Aussie finishes another decent over. The asking rate is starting to climb, and the Jadhav-Watson duo need a few big hits now if they are to remain in the chase.
RCB need 84 off 48 balls.
Off in a flash ⚡. Just like that - A @msdhoni special! #RCBvRPS #IPL - @RPSupergiants pic.twitter.com/pRYUkJRmI4
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2017
A mixture of some good bowling and waiting game batting has seen the required run rate go over 9. Dan Christian has been miserly, mixing up his pace and length well. Rahul Chahar is yet to have a bowl, how confident will Smith be in using him in the latter half of the game?
After 11 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 72/3 ( Kedar Jadhav (W) 10 , Shane Watson 1)
Another huge wicket for Pune in the 11th over, with Tahir deceiving AB de Villiers with length and turn to get him stumped — Dhoni as usual doing the rest with his lightning-quick reflexes. Just five runs and the wicket in the over, and Pune are right back in the game!
RCB need 90 off 54 balls.
OUT! AB de Villiers looks to go for an on-drive and misses. Just that his foot is fractionally out. Dhoni collects the ball and whips the bails off in a fraction of a second — usual Dhoni business! RCB 70/3
AB de Villiers st Dhoni b Tahir 29(30)
After 10 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 69/2 ( AB de Villiers 29 , Kedar Jadhav (W) 8)
Christian brought back into the attack. ABD looks to shuffle to his left in the fourth ball, before getting back to position, attempting a scoop and missing. Good over from Pune’s perspective, with four coming off it.
RCB need 95 off 60 balls.
After 9 overs,Royal Challengers Bangalore 63/2 ( AB de Villiers 28 , Kedar Jadhav (W) 6)
Tahir into his second over. De Villiers and Jadhav exchange a couple of singles, before the former gets down on one knee to launch the ball over the wide long-off boundary! Typical AB! 10 off the over.
RCB need 99 off 66 balls.
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