A fine show from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bowlers, especially Karn Sharma and Josh Hazlewood helped the visitors secure an 18-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Lucknow on Monday. RCB is at the fifth place in the points table with five wins and four losses, with a total of 10 points. LSG is in third place with a similar win-loss record but a superior run-rate. In the chase of 127 runs, LSG was off to an extremely poor start. On the second ball of the inning, Mohammed Siraj once again struck to remove a dangerous Kyle Mayers for a duck, continuing his consistency in powerplay overs. LSG was 0/1 in 0.2 overs.
From that point, RCB gave it back to LSG batters with their spin bowling. Maxwell cleaned up Krunal Pandya for 14 off 11 balls, with Virat Kohli taking a good catch. Josh Hazlewood’s pace cleaned up Ayush Badoni for just four, with Virat taking another catch. Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Deepak Hooda for just one after he was stumped by Dinesh Karthik. LSG was reduced to 27/4 in 5.1 overs.
Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis, the in-form pair for LSG had the responsibility to rebuild the innings. At the end of the powerplay in six overs, LSG was 34/4 with Stoinis (6*) and Pooran (7*) unbeaten. Spin continued to dominate the proceedings. Karn Sharma got the big wicket of Nicholas for just nine runs, Mahipal Lomror took a catch at deep square leg. LSG was 38/5 in 7 overs.
Krishnappa Gowtham and Stoinis started to build a partnership, with LSG bringing up 50-run mark in 8.2 overs. LSG was 63/5 at the end of 10 overs, with Gowtham (21*) and Stoinis (12*) unbeaten. The 27-run stand between the duo ended when the dangerous man Stoinis went up in the air and gave a catch to Suyash Prabhudessai for 13 runs off 19 balls at long-off. LSG was 65/6 in 10.4 overs. Krishnappa Gowtham was run out for 23 off 13 balls, sinking LSG to 66/7 in 11.1 overs.
Ravi Bishnoi and Amit Mishra continued the chase but they did not last long as Bishnoi was run out for five runs by the duo of Karthik and Harshal Patel. LSG sunk to 77/8 in 14.4 overs. At the end of 15 overs, LSG was at 78/8, with Naveen-ul-Haq (1*) and Amit Mishra (6*) unbeaten.
In the final three overs, LSG needed 41 runs. A six from Naveen reduced some pressure, leaving LSG with 31 runs to get in the final two overs. With a four from Naveen, LSG crossed the 100-run mark in 18.3 overs. On the very next ball, Hazlewood dismissed Naveen for 13, reducing LSG to 103/9.
LSG needed 23 runs in the final over. LSG failed to complete the chase, finishing at 108 all out in 19.5 overs after Harshal dismissed Amit for 19.
Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, taking 2/15. Karn Sharma took 2/20 in four overs. Hasaranga, Maxwell, Harshal and Siraj got a wicket each.
