IPL 2018: Gopal's sensational spell of leg-spin and other takeaways as Royals beat Bangalore

Here, we look at the key talking points from the clash.

RAJASTHAN’S ARCHER GAMBIT BACKFIRES

Rajasthan skipper Ajinkya Rahane threw a curveball by promoting Jofra Archer to open the innings as a pinch-hitter in a crunch clash. The hosts were hoping to pull a rabbit out of the hat and the expectations were very much of a Sunil Narine-esque innings in the powerplay.

However, that plan spectacularly backfired with Archer falling for a duck for the fourth time this season. After his partner Rahul Tripathi had played a fine first over which fetched only two runs, Archer faced up to Umesh Yadav in the second.

After playing three dot-balls, Archer gloved a rising delivery down the leg-side straight into the hands of the wicket-keeper as Rajasthan were reduced to 2-1 at the end of two overs.

TRIPATHI MAKES IT COUNT AFTER RCB FAIL TO REVIEW

After losing Archer for a duck, Rajasthan’s innings could have gone from bad to worse when Moeen Ali struck Tripathi on the pads after generating some sharp spin in the fourth over of the innings. The Englishman’s vociferous appeal was denied by the umpire and luckily for Tripathi, Kohli opted to not use the review.

The Rajasthan opener would have been walking back to the crease had the visitors reviewed but instead, he went on to register a much-needed half-century for the Royals. He formed a vital 99-run stand for the second wicket with Rahane on a slow track where the ball was not coming on to the bat.

The opener carried his bat as he remained unbeaten on a 58-ball 80 to take Rajasthan to a challenging total.

AB DE VILLIERS GIVES BANGALORE A ROARING START

Despite losing Virat Kohli early in the chase, AB de Villiers and Parthiv Patel had given the visitors a blazing start. The two cashed in on the powerplay overs against the pacers with Archer in particular going for plenty of runs as 55 runs came off the first six overs.

The South African in particular made run-scoring look easy in what was clearly a difficult pitch to bat on. His unrivalled ability to convert excellent balls into boundaries shone through as the Proteas batsman brought up his sixth half-century of the season in no time.

De Villiers was looking extremely good before he was deceived by Shreyas Gopal’s googly for a fine 35-ball 53.

GOPAL’S BIG FOUR DRAGS ROYALS BACK AFTER RCB’S BRISK START

Despite losing Virat Kohli early in the chase, AB de Villiers and Parthiv Patel had given the visitors a blazing start. The two cashed in on the powerplay overs against the pacers with Archer in particular going for plenty of runs.

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal then got the hosts back into the game just when it looked like RCB would run away with it. Gopal struck twice in the ninth over, getting Patel stumped by Klaasen before completing an excellent return catch off his own bowling to send back Moeen Ali.

In his next over, he outfoxed the advancing Mandeep Singh with an excellent flighted delivery as the batsman suffered the same fate as Patel. Gopal’s dream spell was complete as half-centurion AB de Villiers became his fourth victim with Klaasen executing his third stumping of the day.

The leg-spinner’s career-best figures of 4-16 reduced Bangalore to 99-6 at the end of the 14^th over as Rajasthan gained the upper hand.