Facing fellow play-offs chasers Delhi Capitals (DC) in a must-win game at a sold-out M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Royal Challengers defended a par target of 188 in exemplary fashion to soar to the fifth spot in the table with 12 points from 13 games.
Bengaluru: The tiny flickering flame of hope continues to burn brightly for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) amidst the strong winds. Looking down for the count a month ago following a horrendous start where they managed just a solitary win in 8 games, the Royal Challengers have now turned their season around stunningly by posting their fifth triumph on the bounce here on Sunday.
Facing fellow play-offs chasers Delhi Capitals (DC) in a must-win game at a sold-out M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Royal Challengers defended a par target of 188 in exemplary fashion to soar to the fifth spot in the table with 12 points from 13 games. Very importantly, they ensured they maintained their healthy run-rate (+0.387) after bowling out DC for 140.
DC, whose chase was rocked at the start itself when RCB reduced them to 30/4 in just 3.3 overs, failed to recover from the early blows. A semblance of hope was there when stand-in skipper Axar Patel (57, 39b) and Shai Hope (29, 23b) forged a 56-run stand for the fifth wicket but RCB, well aware of the fickle nature of the format where one blistering innings can change the dimension of the game, barely lifted their foot off the pedal.