IPL 2021: Srikar Bharat's half-century, Glenn Maxwell's 'Big Show' help RCB defeat DC by 7 wickets

What a last-over thriller. The match saw everything, from losing early wickets to misfielding to last ball SIX. Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) Srikar Bharat and Glenn Maxwell's half-centuries helped their side defeat Delhi Capitals (DC) by seven wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday

While it was Bharat's first 50, it was the 'Big Show's' sixth this IPL season. Eight runs were needed off two balls, and Bharat took a second run to keep strike. However, Avesh, who until then, was nailing his yorkers, dished out one well down leg, handing RCB a wide. And surely Bharat did not disappoint.

Bharat smashed the last ball for a SIX and this is a very special knock especially for someone who in India is looked at as a pure Test specialist. He scored an unbeaten 78 and was helped by Maxwell who scored 51 to help RCB beat the table-toppers in their final league match.

Among the DC bowlers, Anrich Nortje took two wickets while Axar Patel took one. As for the qualifiers, RCB will now face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their next contender.

Earlier, Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan played knocks of 48 and 43 as DC posted a total of 164/5. Apart from Dhawan and Shaw, Shimron Hetmyer also got among the runs as he played a knock of 29.

For RCB, Mohammed Siraj returned with two wickets. Sent into bat, Delhi Capitals got off to a brilliant start as openers Dhawan and Shaw put on 55 runs inside the first six overs.

Both batters continued till the 10-over mark and as a result, Delhi was sitting nicely at 88/0. However, the very first ball of the 11th over brought about Dhawan`s (43) dismissal as he was sent back to the pavilion by Purple Cap holder Harshal Patel.

Soon after, Prithvi Shaw (48) and Rishabh Pant (10) were dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal and Daniel Christian leaving Delhi Capitals at 108/3 in the 13th over. In the end, Shimron Hetmyer played a quickfire cameo of 29 runs to propel Delhi`s total past the 160-run mark.