Published: Apr 20, 2013, 09:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 20, 2013, 09:31 PM (IST)
Royal Challengers Bangalore were dominant in the field © IANS
By Devarchit Varma
Bangalore: Apr 20, 2013
Royal Challengers Bangalore produced an inspired bowling performance to bowl out Rajasthan Royals for a modest total of 117 in the 27th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2013 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
Rajasthan suffered a collapse and slipped from 104 for four to 117 all out from 19.4 overs as Bangalore gained command.
R Vinay Kumar and RP Singh shared six wickets between them and Caribbean pacer Ravi Rampaul bagged two as the Bangalore pacers dominated against the Rajasthan batsmen.
Rahul Dravid top scored with 35 while Stuart Binny scored 33 as other RR batsmen found it tough batting against the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowlers.
After being asked to bat first, Rajasthan made a slow start as the RCB bowlers maintained pressure from the beginning.
Shane Watson showed intent to take the attack to the opposition, as he slammed the first ball of the match for a boundary off Ravi Rampaul.
But Watson failed to carry on as he mistimed a shot and Murali Karthik took a good catch at mid-on to send the Rajasthan batsman packing.
Watson’s dismissal brought Rahul Dravid to the crease, and he took the Royals ahead with Rahane in a cautious manner. Both Dravid and Rahane kept RCB bowlers at bay, not allowing them to make further damage and added 16 runs for the second wicket.
Rahane, who has been Rajasthan’s prolific run-scorer this season, fell to read a slower delivery off Jaydev Unadkat, and gave a simple catch to Tillakaratne Dilshan at point.
Rahane struck two boundaries and a six to score 14 off 13 balls during his stay at the crease.
Stuart Binny joined Dravid in the middle and they added a further 40 runs for the third wicket to take the Rajasthan side forward. Binny played an aggressive knock of 33 from 20 balls, before he mistimed a pull shot off R Vinay Kumar, and Bangalore wicketkeeper KB Arun Karthik took a good catch.
Dravid carried on scoring runs on both sides of the wicket, reaching a fluent 35 off 31 balls. But in a bid to increase the scoring rate, he fell to Murali Kartik in the 15th over. Dravid struck five boundaries during his stay at the crease.
Rajasthan’s tail end batsmen could not make any significant contribution and they were bowled out.
Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 117 all-out in 19.4 overs (Rahul Dravid 35, Stuart Binny 33; RP Singh 2 for 13, R Vinay Kumar 3 for 18) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore.
(Devarchit Varma is a cricket fanatic who finds nothing more exciting to do than to write, watch or talk about the sport. Having played the game at club and college level, he now pursues his passion as a scribe)
