LSG vs RCB HIGHLIGHTS: All-round bowling as Bangalore seal 18-run win over Lucknow Cricket News
It was the second time in the season, the Lucknow batting line-up was completely exposed as they failed to chase down a slow 127-run target at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Bangalore registered their fifth win of the season as they successfully defended their joint-lowest total in the league. In the chase, Lucknow were bundled out for 108 in the final over as they registered their second-lowest total in 2022 after 82 against Gujarat Titans.
After a brilliant effort with the ball that saw LSG restrict RCB to 126 for nine, the batsman looked absolutely helpless, having failed miserably to read the home conditions. In the absence of Rahul, who injured his right thigh muscle while fielding, the top-order batsmen made aggressive shot selection.
Chasing 27 for four in the 11th over and then 65 for six, the fate of the match was sealed just after the halfway mark, but Lucknow managed to delay the inevitable till the last over.
After opting to bat, RCB’s innings never had momentum despite skipper Faf du Plessis and the opening pair of Virat Kohli Shared a 62-run partnership.
as it happened
The spin duo of Ravi Bishnoi (2/21) and veteran Amit Mishra (2/21) shone with the ball to keep RCB’s scoring rate in check in the middle overs.
Later, it proved to be a dreadful start for LSG chasing a modest target as they lost their first three wickets for just 21 runs in 4.1 overs.
In Rahul’s absence, Kyle Mayers and Ayush Badoni opened the innings but failed to live up to the expectations.
While Meares went to the second ball of the innings without troubling the scorers, stand-in captain Krunal Pandya smashed an 11-ball 14 before being caught by Virat Kohli at long-off off Glenn Maxwell.
Badoni went for a big shot in the next over and was caught by Kohli off Josh Hazlewood (2/15).
If that wasn’t enough, Deepak Hooda Dinesh Karthik was stumped by Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, leaving LSG 27 for four in 5.1 overs.
Leg-spinner Karn Sharma (2/20) made matters worse for LSG with Nicholas Pooran (9) and Marcus Stoinis (13) in the space of four overs.
The asking rate was under control but LSG kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Krishnappa Gowtham was about to depart, having scored 23 runs in 13 balls and was run out.
Ravi Bishnoi then got himself run out as LSG collapsed to 77 for eight in 14.4 overs.
Naveen-ul-Haq and Amit Mishra made a stormy partnership of 26 runs for the ninth wicket.
An injured Rahul came to bat last and with LSG needing 24 off eight balls, he looked in discomfort and failed to open his account.
Earlier, Rahul failed to stop the boundary, looked in a lot of pain and limped off the field. In his absence, Pandya took charge of the team.
The pair of Du Plessis and Kohli gave RCB another good start. Both the openers failed to get going but gave a platform to the rest of the batsmen to take RCB to a decent total.
Kohli was not at his best and hit just three fours during his 30-ball 31 before being stumped by Pooran off Bishnoi.
The new man in Anuj Rawat did not last long as he was caught by Gowtham in the deep to Mears.
Dangerman Glenn Maxwell followed suit, getting Bishnoi lbw without troubling the scorers much.
After an opening partnership between Du Plessis and Kohli, the LSG bowlers pulled the game back brilliantly.
Suyash Prabhudesai didn’t last long, caught by Gautam at mid-off off the bowling of the experienced Mishra, as RCB were reduced to 90 for four in 14.3 overs.
The match was stopped in the 16th over due to continuous drizzle.
After a delay of about 26 minutes due to rain, the match resumed without reducing the overs.
While du Plessis batted deep, he never found the desired pace in his knock and struggled to hit boundaries and sixes. He was eventually dismissed by Pandya by Mishra in the 17th over as South Africa tried to break the shackles.
Thereafter, Dinesh Karthik (16 off 11 balls) tried his best to take the lead but it was not enough.
Finally, Afghan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq took two wickets in two balls to take 3 for 30 in the 20th over.
(With inputs from PTI)
Watch LSG vs RCB IPL 2023 Highlights: RCB beat LSG by 18 runs in a low-scoring match
