Virat Kohli-led RCB bowlers controlled the proceedings like seasoned puppeteers puling strings at will to restrict Rajasthan Royals to 154/6 on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. It was a very disciplined bowling performance from the RCB bowling unit which maintained discipline for the better part of the 20 overs with Yuzvendra Chahal showing the way.
Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bat first against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first day game of IPL 2020. Jos Buttler and Smith come down in the middle to start the proceedings. Fans waited for a Steve Smith special to happen but got disappointed after he returned to the pavilion after scoring 5 runs off 5 balls as one of Udana's delivery crashed into his stumps after taking inside edge of his bar. During his innings, he hit a four.
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After the first three overs, Rajasthan Royals were 31/1 with Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson at the crease. Buttler followed Smith and Rajasthan Royals suffered second blow. Saini struck in the first delivery and Butler also returned to the pavilion. He departed after scoring 12 balls 22 runs. During his innings, he hit three fours and a six.
Rajasthan Royals suffered third blow when leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked the wicket of in-form Sanju Samson with his 1st delivery of the game. Samson smashed the ball back to Cahal who displayed good show of reflexes to bag a tough catch. Samson returned after scoring 4 runs off 3 balls. At this point, Rajasthan seemed to be in serious trouble.
Rajasthan Royals, after first 5 overs, managed to put 33/3 on board after facing three initial setbacks. All three of RR's important top-order batsmen had been dismissed. RCB bowlers were in complete control of the match now and at the end of the powerplay, they scored 38/3 (6 overs).
Uthappa and Lomror settled in nicely to repair the early damages and stitched a 39-run stand which was unfortunately broken by Chahal. Uthappa holed out in the deep to depart for 17 and give the leg-spinner his second wicket of the day. Washington Sundar was very economical today as he gave away just 20 runs in his four overs.
With last four overs to go, Udana removed Riyan Parag for (16) to end his struggle and get his second wicket, after he skied the ball as Aaron Finch made no mistake in the deep to take a good catch. Meanwhile, Mahipal Lomror continued his fight to hold one and keep on hitting fours and sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Chahal was smashed for a big six but he soon took his revenge by dismissing well-set Lomror for 47, just three runs short of a fifty and RCB was delighted to take out the dangerous looking batsman. With this Chahal got his third wicket. Jofra Archer was the next man in with runs not flowing for RR and Tewatia on the other end.
Tewatia also faced a blow on his chest after getting hit by Saini with an unintentional full toss. However, he seemed to be okay after getting checked by the team physio. Tewatia made his comeback by hitting two consecutive sixes in the same over.
In the last over, the duo played some brilliant strokes to score 15 runs off the final over and power their team to 154 in allotted 20 overs.