IPL 2018: Final over in RCB's innings the difference in 14-run win over Mumbai Indians

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  • RCB are in a must-win situation. Image - IPL/Twitter.

    Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Mumbai Indians by 14 runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the IPL.

    Having been put into bat, the hosts posted a first innings total of 167/7 with their opener Manan Vohra top scoring with 45 runs off 31 deliveries.

    Brendon McCullum and Virat Kohli built a 60-run partnership but Hardik Pandya took three wickets in the 18th over to knock back RCB. Colin de Grandhomme did manage to accelerate at the death though.

    In response, Mumbai’s top order let them down as they lost wickets at regular intervals – the skipper Rohit Sharma was sent back to the pavilion for a golden duck. The Pandya brothers put up a fight but fell short of the target.

    TALE OF TWO OVERS

    It was a good toss for Mumbai to win as they put RCB in to bat first with the wicket at the Chinnaswamy Stadium never going to allow a huge score. Nevertheless, the home team’s strong top order did well to set them up for an unlikely big total in the region of 185.

    Manan Vohra admirably handed Bangalore a good start before big guns Virat Kohli and Brendon McCullum played the middle overs well, scoring at a good pace. However, Hardik Pandya intervened. His direct hit dismissed McCullum run out before his phenomenal 18th over stopped RCB dead in their tracks.

    He picked up the wickets of Kohli, Mandeep Singh and Washington Sundar  in quick succession to rattle through the Challengers’ middle order for the cost of just two runs. Mumbai held the upper hand at that stage in what was a crucial period in the RCB innings.

    With two new batsmen at the crease, the host struggled to accelerate but the final over from Mitchell McClenaghan afforded them a lifeline. Colin de Grandhomme hit three sixes off the pacer who had bowled well up until that point to accelerate RCB to a respectable total of 167/7.

    RCB ABSENTEES

    Vohra, Kohli and McCullum all did reasonably well on a difficult wicket but any team could always use the firepower of AB de Villiers. The South African missed the defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders with a viral fever and failed to recover in time for this encounter.

    The only change from the XI which faced KKR though was Murugan Ashwin being dropped with Sundar reclaiming his place. It seemed like a rather harsh decision though. It’s no secret that Ashwin dropped the dangerous Chris Lynn early on in his innings, an error which ultimately cost RCB the game.

    The Australian punished his opponents by going on to score an unbeaten 62 and win the game for KKR. As a result, the fact Ashwin actually bowled a decent spell of two for 36 was overlooked. He might have flourished on a pitch which seemed to generate plenty of turn. Fortunately for RCB, they came away with the win regardless.

    MUMBAI GO DOWN FIGHTING

    Mumbai’s strategy to bat deep nearly paid off. At 84/5 after 12 overs, there appeared to be no way back for the visitors. Hardik Pandya was enjoying a fine individual performance on the day, however, having already picked up three wickets and getting McCullum run out.

    Joined by his brother at the crease, the duo staged a fightback before Krunal fell for 23 runs with Mumbai at 141/6. Hardik was caught out at long on after a fighting half-century as the Indians fell 14 runs short, with RCB be putting in a great display in the field as well.

    With eight games played and only two wins to their name, their title defence may already be over.

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