RCB vs KKR Three things: Russell vs Gayle, Mandeep's return, Starc's consistency

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally broke their Indian Premier League 2015 home duck as they chased down a daunting 112-run target in a rain-curtailed 10-over-a-side match. Having chosen to bowl first, RCB had to wait till 6.45 PM IST before they could take to the field and hope for their first win in five matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. [caption id=“attachment_2224288” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Up until this match, Mandeep had scored just 33 runs in three innings. BCCI[/caption] Here are three things that defined the match: The battle of the West Indians: Until the last over was given to Andre Russell, he was winning his battle against fellow big-hitter from the Caribbean Chris Gayle. Russell had scored more runs – a cracking 45 off just 17 balls, taken the wicket of Virat Kohli in an over which cost just seven runs and had also pouched Gayle’s catch at long-on. Gayle on the other hand, scored 21 off nine deliveries and had made just one sharp stop at backward point – otherwise, he was quite lazy in the field. Gayle has scored just 10 more runs in IPL 8 compared to Russell — but the latter is a livewire in the field and handy with the ball (7 wickets in eight matches). He is also KKR’s top scorer with 230 runs in six innings and a highest of 66. Gayle has more sixes than Russell (17 to 13) but Russell has more fours (25 to 20) — clearly, RCB vs KKR was also about this individual battle and it went down to the wire. Russell was the better individual but Gayle’s team took home the points. Mandeep’s return: Up until this match, Mandeep had scored just 33 runs in three innings. Kohli has picked him in six games but not many can see the merits he brings to the side. He needed a big innings – a vital contribution. And it came against KKR at just the right time. Mandeep started off briskly and once he had his eye set, nothing was going to stop him. There were scoops and drives and slogs played across the line — Mandeep was putting up a show and he capped it with two sixes in the last over to give RCB a stylish win. His record is now 78 runs in four innings — not flattering, but he has bought himself more time in the XI. Overs don’t matter for Starc: It doesn’t matter which format Mitchell Starc is playing in. He was brilliant in the 50-over World Cup, has been the best IPL bowler so far and his consistency didn’t change in a 10-over match either. Going for just 15 runs in two overs and getting the wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate, he played another fine match for RCB as the rest of their bowlers got smashed around. Out of his 12 deliveries – he gave away just one four and bowled six dots. That means half his deliveries cost nothing. It’s just phenomenal how he continues to perform week in week out — and at 25, there’s a lot more to come from him.