IPL 2018: Umesh Yadav's burst and three run-outs seal Punjab's fate as RCB canter to 10-wicket win

Ajit Vijaykumar 21:32 14/05/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Yadav picked up 3-23 against Punjab. Image: BCCI.

    Royal Challengers Bangalore sailed to a 10-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab inside 10 overs in the IPL on Monday to keep their play-offs hopes alive.

    Fast bowler Umesh Yadav picked up three wickets while another three fell to run-outs as Kings XI were shot out for a paltry 88 in 15.1 overs in Indore.

    The Royal Challengers were not troubled one bit during the chase as captain Virat Kohli (48 not out) and fellow opener Parthiv Patel  (40 not out) secured victory in 8.1 overs as the entire match took less than 24 of the designated 40 overs.

    UMESH TOO GOOD

    Royal Challenger’s India pacer Umesh has been simply sensational this year. He had earlier talked about following the advice of bowling coach Ashish Nehra and concentrating on bowling quick and straight.

    That strategy was put to great use by the India quick. He first drew an edge from opener Chris Gayle in the very first over, only for wicketkeeper Parthiv to drop the chance.

    However, Umesh had his tail up. He went on the attack and peppered the Punjab batsmen with short-pitched deliveries. He first banged one into the pitch as KL Rahul mistimed the ball to Colin de Grandhomme at square leg. Then in the same fifth over, he bowled another short ball close to Gayle, who tried to send the ball outside the ground but could only sky it to Mohammad Siraj at square leg.

    Yadav picked a third wicket – that of tailender Andrew Tye – through a short ball that caught the edge behind for figures of 3-23 from his four overs.

    PUNJAB DIG THEIR OWN GRAVE

    Kings XI had lost six wickets for 78 runs inside 12 overs. Some calm heads were needed at the time to milk the singles and take the total close to 120. However, as it tends to happen in such situations, running between the wickets becomes a casualty.

    Punjab lost three of their lower order wickets to run-outs, starting with skipper Ravi Ashwin who went for a suicidal single on the first ball he faced from Moeen Ali.

    The run-out of Mohit Sharma was even more incredulous. The batsman worked Moeen towards long on and despite the magnificent AB de Villiers giving chase, Mohit went for a single. De Villiers recovered in time to collect the ball and throw it to the bowler’s end where Mohit was found short.

    ALL OVER INSIDE 10

    A target of 89 was never going to trouble Bangalore, even if they lost a couple of early wickets. However, given the docile nature of the wicket and the absence of spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman in the Punjab, it never materialised as Bangalore raced to a 10-wicket win.

    Captain Kohli remained unbeaten on 48 and keeper Parthiv on 40 on the same ground that produced more than 450 runs in the previous game between Punjab and Kolkata.

    BANGALORE MARCH ON

    The win keeps the Royal Challengers in contention for a spot in the play-offs. It was a match Kohli’s team simply had to win and they now have five wins from 12 matches.

    Punjab, however, are not out of it as yet but shockingly poor effort from their batsmen on a belter of a wicket in Indore will be cause for concern, especially since it has come at a crucial juncture of the tournament.

    Recommended