IPL RCB vs RR: Sanju Samson struck a fine hal-century. (Source: IPL)
IPL RCB vs RR: Royal Challengers Bangalore faced their second defeat in the tournament after losing to Rajasthan Royals at home by 19 runs. Chasing a huge total of 218 runs, RCB lost Brendon McCullum early but skipper Virat Kohli showed his class some stunning strokes. Kohli struck 57 off 30 before getting out to Shreyas Gopal. RCB kept losing wickets on regular intervals before Washington Sundar and Mandeep Singh chipped in some runs. Sundar scored for 35 while Mandeep remained unbeaten at 47. Earlier, RR rode on Sanju Samson’ sunbeaten 92 to post 217/4 in 20 overs.
Highlights
Royal Challengers Bangalore faced their second defeat in the tournament after losing to Rajasthan Royals at home by 19 runs. They have now lost two out of the three matches in IPL 2018
Washington Sundar has been cleaned up by Ben Stokes for 35. He tried to slog a full toss delivery over fine leg but only manages to hit it on to his stumps. RCB lose 6 for 182
Washington Sundar has scored 10 runs off the first two deliveries and RCB now require 38 off 10. He has moved to 33 off 16. We might have left with some more excitement in this match
Royal Challengers Bangalore are surely out of this run-chase but these remaining deliveries will tell the abilities that Mandeep Singh and Washinton Sundar have
Five overs left in the innings and RCB need 84 runs with 5 wickets in hand. They had a chance till Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers were out in the middle but the boundaries have stopped coming since their departure
Pawan Negi has been sent back in the hut by Ben Laughlin. RCB are in a spot of bother after losing half their side. Mandeep Singh is still at the creas but the hosts need 92 off 35
Shreyas Gopal gets another important wicket and this time it's AB de Villiers who is walking back. It was once again a short delivery and ABD tried to pull it but found Unadkat in the deep
Shreyas Gopal gets the big wicket of Virat Kohli who tried to pull a short delivery from him but found D Arcy Short at Cow Corner. Kohli departs for 57 off 30 and RCB are 100/3. He didn't really need to hit that one but the ball seemed to be in his zone. Mandeep Singh is the new man in
That's what happens when you let go off the chances of getting ABD's wicket TWICE. He picks the spot well and has sent the ball over the boundary rope for a huge six. After 10 overs RCB are 100/2
There was a dropped catch in the last over and AB de Villiers has survived a run-out. He had almost reached the batting end but was sent back by Kohli. Buttler had all the time to cpllect the ball and throw it but he misses
RCB are maintaining a good scoring-rate as they end 9th over with a maximum and are 91/2. Just after AB de Villiers was dropped on the previous delivery, captain Kohli struck another six
It's half-century for the skipper and what a time to get their. He has takes 26 balls and that is the fastest for him in IPL. RCB need him till the end if they want to win this one
Short scalps an important wicket of Quinton de Kock who was looking good in the middle. He tried to pull a short delivery but found the fielder in the deep. RCB are 81/2. it was agood catch from Jaydev Unadkat
Virat Kohli is leading from the front. He strokes that one away to the long on boundary for a six. The skipper is on efire at the moment and RCB in control. He moves to 48 now
Ben Stokes leaks 15 runs in his first over and RCB end their powerplay overs at 64/1. They did lose McCullum but Kohli and De Kock have been brilliant so far.
Back to back boundaries for Quinton de Kock. He first came down the track and hit it over the 30-yard cirlce and then swept a length delivery to square leg boundary. RCB are 49/1 after 5
After losing Brendon McCullum early in the chase, Royal Challengers Bangalore have gained the momentum back. Virat Kohli and Quinton de Kock are taking on the RR bowling
Virat Kohli hammers three boundaries in that over. That was short-pitched delivery and the skipper totally dispatches that one away to the boundary. Kohli needs to stay at the crease till the end
Ben Stokes takes a blinder in the deep to remove Brendon McCullum for 4. RCB lose an early wicket and Gowtham has his first. This is a huge wicket for RR
Royal Challengers Bangalore have an uphill task at their disposal. If they chased down the total then it would be the highest chase in the history of IPL 2018. Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum are out in the middle
Riding on a brilliant perfromance from Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals post 217/4 in 20 overs. Samson remained unbeaten 92 off just 45. His innings included 10 sixes and two boundaries
Sanju Samson is in a brilliant form. He hammers Yadav for consecutive maximums on two balls. This has been a superb batting display from the youngster
Rahul Tripathi hammers the length delivery from Umesh Yadav for a maximum and follows it with a boundary. RR go past 200-run mark
6 4 4 and that's how Samson ends the penultimate over. RR are 190/5 after 19 with Umesh Yadav coming into the bowling for this last over
GONE! Jos Buttler has been sent back in the dugout by Chris Woakes. Buttler didn't time the ball properly and it went straight into the hands of Virat Kohli at mid-off
Two in two for Sanju Samson. Samson hits Kulwant Khejroliya for two maximums on the trot as RR end the 18th over at 173/3. Samson is not letting go a single chance of scoring boundaries
Jos Buttler finishes off 17th over with a maximum. Chris Woakes missed the yorker as he didn't pitch the ball properly and that has been dispatched over the rope
Sanju Samson has carried his form forward with the bat and he brings up his half-century with a single. He has been in good touch so far for RR in IPL 2018
Rajasthan Royals are 129 for the loss of three wickets and this is the time to make a move. 15 overs bowled in the innings and umpire signals the strategic timeout
Sanju Samson gets down on one knee and pulls Pawan Negi for a big, big six. Rajasthan Royals need more of those and both Samson and Jos Buttler are capable of doing it
Yuzvendra Chahal returns and removes Ben Stokes! Rajasthan Royals have lost a very important wicket here. Chahal with most wickets for RCB now
Ben Stokes doing it for Rajasthan. 15 runs off the 12th over and much needed for RR. Eight wickets in hand and Royals have a big advantage going into the second half of the innings
At the halfway stage, Rajasthan are 86 for the loss of two wickets. This is a slow innings from Rajasthan and they need some quick runs in the middle overs.
Time for the teams to rework their strategies. After nine overs, Rajasthan are 68 for the loss of two wickets. A slow start but they would like to move on from this. Stokes and Samson are at the crease
WICKET! Yuzvendra Chahal gets his first wicket as well! Short tries to cut the ball but that is no length for it. He gets a thick outside edge and it caught behind
Six over bowled and Bangalore are 52 for the loss of one wicket. This a very good start from Rajasthan on this slow pitch. If they can keep wickets in hand, a big total can be posted
GONE! Spoke too soon, didn't we? Rahane is caught at mid-on after a lazy shot off Woakes. A slower delivery from Woakes which Rahane wanted to play straight but this went straight to mid-on
Rahane has been criticised for his slow scoring rate in this IPL. But today he has turned it around. He is already on 36* off 19 balls. Brilliant start from him
Royal Challengers Bangalore players are in green jerseys today against Rajasthan Royals and there is a reason. Here's why RCB are in green.
Ajinya Rahane takes the ariel route and gets some boundaries for Rajasthan. A sweep through fine leg for four and then a six over long on. Rajasthan 22 for no loss after 3 overs