49th match, RCB vs CSK, IPL 2022: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 13 runs
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) returned to winning ways in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Wednesday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, defeating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 13 runs. After Mahipal Lomror's quick-fire 42(27) drove the side to 173/8 in the first innings, Harshal Patel's three important wickets allowed RCB successfully defend the score. CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway started carefully in pursuit of 174, and CSK were 25-0 after four overs.
As the fifty partnership was up for the first wicket, both Conway and Gaikwad were on the move with three fours and two sixes. After six overs, CSK were 51-0. After Gaikwad was apprehended by Prabhudessai, Shahbaz Ahmed put an end to the deadly partnership. After Glenn Maxwell removed Robin Uthappa in the next over, CSK were 2 down. Maxwell subsequently removed Ambati Rayudu's stumps to claim his second wicket. Conway maintained his form from the previous game, adding a six and a four to achieve his half-century.
With five overs to go, Wanindu Hasaranga claimed the key wicket of Conway, who was caught at deep backward square in the 15th over. CSK were 118/4. After Virat Kohli successfully retrieved a skier in the 16th over, Harshal Patel got involved with the crucial wicket of Ravindra Jadeja. CSK was down to 47 off 18 in the equation. Moeen Ali smashed the first ball for six, but was caught by Harshal on the following delivery, giving him his second wicket. MS Dhoni was caught at deep midwicket in the penultimate over by Josh Hazlewood, who took the crucial wicket.
CSK needed 31 points out of a possible six. Harshal took his third wicket of the innings when Dwaine Pretorius hit a six on the opening ball but failed to cross the ropes on the next delivery. RCB won by a 13-run margin despite Theekshana hitting a six and a four. Earlier, RCB, who were given the opportunity to bat first, did not modify their lineup from the previous game. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, the RCB openers, got off to a good start, as the team was 33-0 after four overs. In the third over, Kohli smashed the first six of the innings before adding two fours at the top. After du Plessis hit his first six over long-on, RCB were 57-0 at the end of the powerplay.
In the eighth over, Moeen Ali was inserted into the attack, and the spinner gave CSK their first breakthrough as du Plessis holed out to deep. After being run-out in the ninth inning, Glenn Maxwell was the next batter to be dismissed. As RCB reached 79-3 at the midway mark, Moeen Ali claimed Virat Kohli's stumps for his second wicket of the innings. With a crucial 44-run partnership, Rajat Patidar and Mahipal Lomror helped RCB reclaim the momentum. Patidar and Lomror both added a four and a six.
Dwaine Pretorius broke the partnership by dismissing Patidar due to a brilliant running catch by Mukesh Choudhary at the end of 15 overs. Lomror kept the fours coming, and Dinesh Karthik joined him on the opposite end. In the penultimate over, Maheesh Theekshana took three wickets, including the crucial wicket of Lomror. In the first innings, Karthik hit two sixes in the final over to help RCB reach 173/8.
Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 173/8 (Mahipal Lomror 42, Faf du Plessis 38; Maheesh Theekshana 3-27) beat Chennai Super Kings 160/8 (Devon Conway 56, Moeen Ali 34; Harshal Patel 3-35) by 13 runs.
