News
Mumbai Indians well-rounded bowling attack will be tested in Abu Dhabi today as the defending champions run into Royal Challengers Bangalore's strong batting line-up in another top of the table IPL 2020 clash. A win will will almost certainly guarantee the winning team a spot in the IPL 2020 playoffs. With 14 points from 11 matches, MI and RCB are level on points but defending champions Mumbai have a superior run-rate. (LIVE SCORES | POINTS TABLE | SCHEDULE & RESULTS)
7:58 PM IST: End of Powerplay; Pattinson bowls the sixth over; Gets smashed for FOUR !! by Padikkal of the first ball pressure builds on the bowlers; MI are looking to stop the flow of runs, RCB are looking at ease in the middle, Padikkal season just got even better, Smahes FOUR!!! of the last bowl TEAM FIFTY for RCB: 54/0 (6), Phillippe 25 (19b, 3x4, 1x6), Padikkal 29 (17b, 6x4)
7:54 PM IST: Pollard is shuffling the bowlers, Boult comes into the attack, Phillippe growing into confidence attacks a slower ball for a SIX!!!, Last ball Phillippe again carts it for FOUR!!!!End of 5th over RCB take 10 runs; RCB 42/0 (5) Phillipe 24, Paddikal 18
7:48 PM IST: End of 4th: 3.1 FOUR!!!!!! Paddikal again whips the length ball over midwicket as RCB gain momentum; 3.4: FOUR!!! This time Phillippe; With two fours RCB are off to a good start despite a new opening pair; RCB 32/0 (4)
7:44 PM IST: End of 3rd over; 2.1, Phillippe takes a double, 2.2 A single of next; 2.3 FOUR!!!! Paddikal guides it over keeper, uses Krunal's pace who bowled this at 99kmph; 2.4 FOUR!!!!! Paddikal punches this short cover; 12 runs come in this over; RCB 22/0(3) Pattinson into the attack
7:38 PM IST: End of 2nd Over: 1.1 At 144kmph, Bumrah is generating good pace; 1.3: FOUR!!!! Philippe moves across and drives it past mid-on; 5 runs in this over RCB 10/0(2; Krunal Pandya to start the 3rd
7:34 PM IST: End of 1st over: Bolt gets a good swing of the first ball; 0.5 FOUR!!! Padikkal steps out, makes room and hammers it through short cover; RCB 5/0 (1); Bumrah to bowl 2nd over
7:29 PM IST: Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Philippe to open for RCB, Trent Bolt to start the bowling attack for MI; This is the fight for No 1 spot on the table.
7:07 PM IST: No Rohit Sharma, stand-in MI skipper Kieron Pollard wins the toss and opts to field. MI with no changes, three in RCB: Aaron Finch, Moeen Ali, injured Nitin Saini out, Josh Phillippe, Dale Steyn and Shivam Dube in
Mumbai Indians:
Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Kieron Pollard (c), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, James Pattinson, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Philippe (wk), V Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Gurkeerat Singh, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Dale Steyn
PREVIEW
Both RCB and MI are coming off defeats. While Mumbai Indians suffered a shock eight-wicket defeat against lowly Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore lost to Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets. On form, both MI and RCB are on a high and these defeats can at best be seen as blemishes.
How closely these two teams are matched was evident in the first-leg clash between RCB and MI in Dubai on September 28. The match ended in a tie after MI finished on 201 needing 202 to win. RCB won the match via Super Over. The highlight of the match was Ishan Kishan's 99 and Kieron Pollard's unbeaten 60 off 24 balls. MI will need both Kishan and Pollard to fire on Wednesday if Rohit Sharma misses out due to injury.
RCB's batting consisting of Virat Kohli and AB De Villers will face a stiff test against MI's pace attack. Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult and James Pattinson have hunted as a team and have been fairly successful. Bumrah is one wicket away from a 100 IPL wickets and 200 wickets in T20 cricket.
How the teams negotiate the powerplays and the slog overs will decide the outcome of the MI vs RCB contest.
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