Samson’s 92-run blitz help RR beat RCB in Bangalore

Hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore have won the toss and opted to bowl first in the Match 11 of IPL 2018 against Rajasthan Royals. Virat Kohli’s RCB and the Ajinkya Rahane-led RR will be looking to build on their first wins of the IPL at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

Match Report

Rusty 'King' Kohli returned to form with a fiery 30-ball 57 but he along with the whole RCB batting line-up succumbed in front of a mammoth 218-run target at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. In the end, Rajasthan Royals under captain Ajinkya Rahane stunned the home crowd and team clinching a comfortable 19-run win in the eleventh match of IPL.

The daunting total demanded almost 11 run-per-over from the power packed RCB batsmen but wickets at regular intervals never allowed the hosts to gain the momentum. Explosive Kiwi batsman Brendon McCullum became the first to surrender, getting out after scoring 4 runs. Though Virat and De Kock kept the runs flowing but the required run-rate kept on rising. After De Kock’s dismissal, eyes were on Mr. 360 De Villiers but it was not quite the day for AB. After surviving an easy stumping chance and a run out, DeVilliers followed Virat back to the pavilion leaving the run chase in hands of an inexperienced middle order. Sarfaraz’s replacement Pawan Negi too disappointed with the bat, getting out on 3 off Ben Laughlin. Though Washington Sundar (35 off 19 balls) and Mandeep Singh (47 of 25 balls) showed resistance but in the end home team felt short by 19 runs.

For Royals, Shreyas Iyer (4-0-22-2) along with Krishnappa Gowtham (4-0-36-1) economical spells proved decisive for the team in the high-scoring encounter. 

Sanju Samson was awarded man of the match for his brilliant innings of 92 not out.

Royals now have won 2 out of their three games in IPL so far and are now placed at third spot. On the other hand having lost 2 out of their 3 games in the tournament RCB are on sixth position.

Rajasthan Royals batting summary 

Riding on Sanju Samson’s blistering 92 not out off just 45 balls, Rajasthan Royals on Sunday posted the highest total of this year’s IPL. Samson singlehandedly helped Rajasthan score a mammoth total of 217 for loss of 4 wickets in their quota of 20 overs. Samson’s blitzkrieg included two boundaries and 10 astronomical sixes.

Live video(Sanju samson not out 92 Run 45 ball) against RCB 11six, ३बौन्दरय: https://t.co/Or66Vbo8Fg via @YouTube

— Thakur Dhananjay Sin (@ThakurDhananja6) April 15, 2018

After winning the toss, Virat Kohli invited Rajasthan Royals to bat first on a belter of a track. Captain Ajinkya Rahane (36 off 20 balls) was the first one to walk back after providing a solid start. Coming in at number three, Samson started firing from ball one. All-rounder Ben Stokes (27), Jos Buttler (23) and Rahul Tripathi (14) chipped in with useful contributions but Samson’s knock stunned everyone at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

Samson’s knock is now the highest score by a batsman so far and it has helped him to clinch the Orange Cap for the first time in the tournament.

For RCB, nothing went for skipper Kohli as planned. The onslaught by Rajasthan openers and Samson rattled the bowlers from the start. Apart from leggie Yuzvendra Chahal (4-0-22-2) all other bowlers proved expensive and got thrashed all over the park. Last match hero for RCB, Umesh Yadav went for 59 in his four overs.

Toss Report

Hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore have won the toss and opted to bowl first in the Match 11 of IPL 2018 against Rajasthan Royals. Virat Kohli’s RCB and the Ajinkya Rahane-led RR will be looking to build on their first wins of the IPL at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

Playing XI and Team News

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Quinton de Kock (wk), Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli (capt), AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Chris Woakes, Pawan Negi, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Kulwant Khejroliya, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Bangalore has gone in with one change. Out of form Sarfaraz Khan has been replaced by southpaw Pawan Negi.

Rajasthan Royals: Ajinkya Rahane (capt), D'Arcy Short, Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Rahul Tripathi, Jos Buttler (wk), K Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Laughlin.

Rajasthan Royals have gone in with the unchanged squad.

Preview 

A keen contest is on the cards as Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals cross swords in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.

RCB are placed fifth and RR sixth on the points table with two points each from two matches.

They both lost their respective openers against Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

RCB notched up their first victory of the season, riding on South African star A B de Villiers' brilliant half-century to beat Kings XI Punjab by four wickets.

RR celebrated their return to the 'fortress' Sawai Mansingh Stadium with a 10-run win over Delhi Daredevils in the rain-hit match, getting past a revised target of 71 runs in six overs as per the Duckworth/Lewis method.

De Villiers and Quinton de Kock, who scored 45 runs to lay the foundation against Punjab, will aim to continue the good work.

Captain Virat Kohli, who has 52 runs under his belt so far, will be itching to make a mark by getting a big knock.

Brendon McCullum also would like to get into the thick of things, especially after getting a golden duck.

Sarfaraz Khan has been disappointing as he managed to get only six runs in two matches and if he does not pulls his socks up quickly, he could lose his place to England's Moeen Ali, who can also bowl a bit.

Chris Woakes, though successful with the ball, is yet to make an impression with his bat.

The RCB think-tank, including Gary Kirsten, could give a chance to Corey Anderson, who has the ability to hit long and hard.

Both Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes, who have picked up 5 wickets each, would be keen to snatch the purple cap from MI's Mayank Markande, who has bagged 7 seven wickets so far.

Much was expected from the spin duo of Yuzuvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar but they have managed to get only 4 wickets between them.

The in-form New Zealand quickie Tim Southee might get a chance to swing his arms.

RR captain Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson, who staged a recovery with a 45 off 40 balls and 37 off 22 balls, respectively, would like to continue in similar vein.

Rahane has scored 58 runs and Samson 86, with 49 being his highest score.

Jos Buttler and Rahul Tripathi would want to provide entertainment in the death overs as they did against Delhi.

Buttler had hammered two fours and as many sixes in his entertaining knock before being bowled off a slower-ball from Mohammad Shami.

Big Bash star D'Arcy Short will also look to get going, especially after getting only 10 runs in two games.

RR's bowling attack comprising pacers Ben Laughlin and Dhawal Kulkarni had done well to keep DD batsmen in check with their variations.

Ben Stokes, the most-expensive signing at the IPL Player Auction 2018, hasn't been in the best of batting form recently, but RR will hope he can start hitting a few balls out of the park soon. He has just managed 21 runs in two games.