0.0 : Hello and welcome to Super Saturday. You know what that means - DOUBLE HEADERS! Yes, double the excitement. In the 1st game, Bangalore take on Rajasthan while in the 2nd game, Delhi will take on Chennai in Sharjah. So, let's talk about the game in hand! Kohli vs Smith? Sounds interesting! |
Let's talk about Kohli's men first. They would be eager to get back to winning ways after nearly grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat against Punjab in their last game. The openers have not been able to provide a strong platform for the others coming below them. Kohli's scoring rate has been slow in the last couple of games and the ploy to keep de Villiers for the later half against Punjab did not pay off well. Their bowlers too failed to deliver against Punjab and one has to blame a few tac |
For Smith and co., an arduous task of winning most of their games ahead is what lies on their plate. They pulled off a miraculous heist against Hyderabad and were poised to win the last game against Mumbai. But the defending champions came back strongly to halt them in their tracks. Their batting is strong but their bowling hinges too much on Archer alone. If they can set right this discrepancy, they can still bounce back in the tournament. Let's see how it pans out here for them. Stay tuned for |
Pitch Report - Danny Morrison is in the middle for the Pitch Report. The boundary dimensions are very deceptive in terms of sizing, he says. JP Duminy is there as well. He too seconds Morrison's opinion on the dimensions. Duminy reckons it is a good surface, historically a bit on the slower side. Only the second day game in Dubai and how it pans out will be interesting, states Duminy. Tossing the ball will be key, he further adds. |
TOSS - It is time for the spin of the coin! Let's see on which team's side it lands. Up it goes and it is Smith who has won it. Rajasthan will BAT FIRST. |
Steven Smith, Rajasthan's skipper, says that he wants to bat first, pretty much due to the surface in Dubai and the fact that he likes to bat first in day games. Feels they did most of the things right in the last game but ended up on the losing side. Says that the team composition remains the same. Adds that Stokes coming into the team has provided added balance. Hopes they can bat well. |
Rajasthan (Unchanged Playing XI) - Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (WK), Steven Smith (C), Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Kartik Tyagi. |
Bangalore (Playing XI) - Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Washington Sundar, Gurkeerat Singh Mann (IN PLACE OF MOHAMMED SIRAJ), Shahbaz Ahmed (IN PLACE OF SHIVAM DUBE), Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal. |
Virat Kohli, Bangalore's captain, says that the pitch looks much better than he thought. Not as rough as the one in Sharjah he feels. On the changes, Kohli informs that Gurkeerat Mann comes in for Siraj, the latter was brought in specifically for their last game in Sharjah. Also Shivam Dube misses out for Shahbaz Ahmed, who is set to make his League debut. Kohli states that they have taken their learnings from the losses. Adds that it has been hectic this week, with this game being their f |
We are in all readiness to begin play at the 'Ring of Fire' then. The umpires stride out to the middle first, followed by the Bangalore players. The openers for Rajasthan are Ben Stokes and....Robin Uthappa! So, Jos Buttler has been dropped down in the batting order. Uthappa has opened many times for Kolkata, his past franchise. Right, let's see how this pays off for the Men in Pink. Washington Sundar with the ball for Bangalore. He has been phenomenal in the Powerplay overs. 3, 2, 1...HERE WE G |
0.1 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, Uthappa and Rajasthan are underway! Flatter ball around middle, Uthappa strokes it towards mid on and gets to the other end. |
0.2 : Washington Sundar to Ben Stokes, Shortish and around middle, Stokes tucks it towards mid-wicket. |
0.3 : Washington Sundar to Ben Stokes, Floated outside off, driven back to the bowler. |
0.4 : Washington Sundar to Ben Stokes, Three dots in a row! Flatter and around middle and leg, Stokes flicks it to the man at mid-wicket for nothing. |
0.5 : Washington Sundar to Ben Stokes, Stokes is up and running now! Tossed up and outside off, Stokes eases it down to long off for an easy run. |
0.6 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, Dot to end a fine over. The last ball is shortish and around middle, Uthappa works it towards mid-wicket. Just 2 from the opening over. |
Right, spin in the first over. Will it be Chris Morris from the other end now? Yes, here he comes steaming in... |
1.1 : Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, Crunched but straight to the fielder. Morris begins his spell with a short ball outside off, Stokes shuffles to the off side and crunches it but it goes straight to the cover-point fielder. |
1.2 : Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, Fuller and around middle, this time Stokes flicks it down to long on for one. |
1.3 : Chris Morris to Robin Uthappa, Beaten! Nice shape away from the right-hander. A length ball just outside off, Uthappa has a poke but the ball moves away and beats the outside edge. |
1.4 : Chris Morris to Robin Uthappa, Good length ball around off, this time Uthappa is right behind the line of the ball to push it towards mid on. |
1.5 : Chris Morris to Robin Uthappa, Tucks the next one towards mid-wicket for a quick single. Good over from Morris so far. Let's see if he can finish it well. |
1.6 : Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, WIDE! He will have to re-bowl the last ball. He slipped this one down the leg side. Stokes misses his flick. Lucky escape for Morris because the fine leg fielder was inside the ring and a gentle tickle would've meant the ball would've raced to the fence. Wided by the umpire. |
Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, The extra ball is not costly! Stokes advances down the track a bit too early. Morris spots it and fires it wide outside off, Stokes cannot reach it to so he lets it be. 3 from Morris' first. |
2.1 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! GLORIOUS! Full and just outside off, Uthappa makes room and creams the drive through the cover region. First boundary of the game. |
2.2 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! Two-in-two! Short and on middle, Uthappa moves a touch on the off side and powers it through short fine leg for a boundary. |
2.3 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, Flatter and on middle, tucked towards mid-wicket. |
2.4 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! Third boundary of the over! Uthappa has found his feet it seems, at the top order. Sundar is struggling here. Drags one short and on middle, Uthappa sits down and slog sweeps it over square leg for a boundary. |
2.5 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, Tossed up and around off, pushed back to the bowler. |
2.6 : Washington Sundar to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! Boom! 4th boundary in the over! Uthappa has surely found his mojo. Floated outside off, Uthappa moves to the off side and slog sweeps it again. Clears square leg again and the ball races away to the fence. |
Isuru Udana into the attack now. |
3.1 : Isuru Udana to Ben Stokes, EDGY FOUR! Fifth in last 7 balls. A length ball outside off, Stokes advances and looks to slam it over the bowler's head but gets a thick outside edge. It races away to the third man fence. |
3.2 : Isuru Udana to Ben Stokes, Back of a length ball around off, pushed towards the leg side. |
3.3 : Isuru Udana to Ben Stokes, Confusion but safe in the end. Direct hit would've made it interesting. Stokes makes room and tries to steer it through point. Stokes wanted the run but Uthappa sends him back. The fielder has a shy at the striker's end but misses. |
3.4 : Isuru Udana to Ben Stokes, Good change of pace! A slower yorker around off, Stokes does well to dig it out towards the off side for a single. |
3.5 : Isuru Udana to Robin Uthappa, WIDE! Missed the line and bowls it down the leg side. Uthappa looks to flick but misses. Wided. |
Isuru Udana to Robin Uthappa, WIDE! Another one down the leg side. Uthappa once again fails to flick. Wided again. |
Isuru Udana to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! Vintage Uthappa! Stands and powers it over mid on. A length ball just outside off, Uthappa thumps it over mid on and finds the fence. |
3.6 : Isuru Udana to Robin Uthappa, SIX! This one goes all the way! What a way to end the over. A length ball, it is right in the hitting arc of Uthappa. He tonks it over mid on and clears the fence easily. 17 runs off Udana's first over, changes are not doing the trick for Kohli so far. |
4.1 : Navdeep Saini to Ben Stokes, Flicked well but for nothing. Saini runs in and delivers a full ball on middle, Stokes flicks it towards mid on. |
0.0 : Right, Navdeep Saini now, to bowl. |
4.2 : Navdeep Saini to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Slammed! Stokes want to say that even I am playing this game. A shortish ball around off, Stokes goes back and pumps it over mid-wicket and it races away to the fence. |
4.3 : Navdeep Saini to Ben Stokes, Good length ball outside off, pulled wide of the mid-wicket fielder who makes a half stop. A single taken before the man at mid on can get to the ball. |
4.4 : Navdeep Saini to Robin Uthappa, Shortish and outside off, Uthappa runs it down to third man for one. |
4.5 : Navdeep Saini to Ben Stokes, Good bowling. Spots Stokes making room, Saini follows him. Stokes flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a run. |
4.6 : Navdeep Saini to Robin Uthappa, In the air... safe! That was always going to be tough for Kohli to catch, running backwards. A length ball outside off, Uthappa looks to slam it over long on again but this time he gets a top edge. Kohli from mid on runs back and tries to get to the ball but he fails to get under it. Two taken. |
After the hammering that Udana received in his first over, Kohli goes back to Morris. |
5.1 : Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, WIDE! Stokes makes room, Morris bowls it wide outside off but this one is way outside. Stokes lets it be. Wided. |
Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, Good length ball around off, pushed towards mid off. |
5.2 : Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, NOT OUT! Short and wide outside off, Stokes flays it to the left side of the sweeper cover. The call is for two straightaway. They go for it. Finch sends a good throw from the deep, towards the non-striker's end. Morris collects and takes the bails off. Third umpire has been called for. Replays confirm Uthappa is safe. Also, the couple brings 50 for Rajasthan. |
5.1 : Is that a run out? The umpires want to have a look. It goes upstairs....Uthappa is well in. |
5.3 : Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, Brilliant yorker! It is right on the toes of Stokes who does well to dig it out. |
5.4 : Chris Morris to Ben Stokes, OUT! CAUGHT! Morris strikes! A soft dismissal. Morris charges in and bangs a short ball down the leg side. Stokes goes for the pull really hard. He went through the shot really early and ended up getting hit on the gloves. The ball went behind and an easy catch for de Villiers behind the wickets. |
Right, who will walk out now? Buttler? Smith? Samson? What have Rajasthan planned? It is Sanju Samson. |
5.5 : Chris Morris to Sanju Samson, Samson is up and running! A length ball on middle, Samson tucks it to fine leg for a run. |
5.6 : Chris Morris to Robin Uthappa, Slower full toss around middle, Uthappa flicks it down to deep square leg for a single. 5 runs and the huge wicket of Stokes in it. End of the Powerplay and Rajasthan are 52/1. |
6.1 : Navdeep Saini to Robin Uthappa, Good length ball on middle, Uthappa looks to work it on the leg side but the ball hurries him a touch. He fails to connect and gets hit on the thigh pad. |
6.2 : Navdeep Saini to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! BAM! Uthappa telling everyone what he can do if he opens the batting. A length ball outside off, Robin jumps out of his crease and flays it through cover-point. No chance for anyone to make a move to stop the ball. |
6.3 : Navdeep Saini to Robin Uthappa, FOUR! BANG GOES UTHAPPA! Two-in-two! Short ball outside off, Uthappa slams it to the longest part of the ground, deep mid-wicket, for a boundary. |
6.4 : Navdeep Saini to Robin Uthappa, Full toss on middle, flicked to the right side of deep mid-wicket for a run. |
6.5 : Navdeep Saini to Sanju Samson, Just outside off on a good length, guided to third man for an easy single. |
6.6 : Navdeep Saini to Robin Uthappa, Dot to end the over! 10 off the over. A good length ball just around off, Uthappa looks to run it down to third man but misses. Lucky not to edge. |
Yuzvendra Chahal is into the attack now. |
7.1 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Sanju Samson, SIX! What a way to welcome the leggie! This is huge from Samson! Chahal tosses the first ball on middle, right in the slot for Samson. He gets down and powers it way over long on for a massive six. |
7.2 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Sanju Samson, Flatter and around off, pushed towards the cover fielder. |
7.3 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Sanju Samson, Another tossed up ball. Samson drives it down to long off for a single. |
7.4 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Robin Uthappa, OUT! CAUGHT! Chahal has the last laugh. You got to give it to the fact that he is not afraid of tossing the ball. He did that on the very first ball of his spell and got smashed but he continued doing that and has got the success. Floats this one on middle, Uthappa looks to slog it away over the deep mid-wicket fence but fails to get hold of it. It goes as far as Finch at deep mid-wicket and he makes no mistake. |
Who will walk out to the middle now? The skipper, Steven Smith, it is. |
7.5 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Sanju Samson, OUT! TAKEN! Two-in-two for Chahal! This is terrific from the spinner. Chahal once again gives the ball a lot of air and bowls it wide outside off, Samson goes for the lofted shot over long off but like Uthappa he too fails to get the timing. It goes high in the air off the lower part of the bat towards long off. Morris there, settles under it and gobbles it easily. A pretty poor shot from Samson, against a quality spinner. Chahal on a hat-trick. |
7.6 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, No hat-trick for Chahal but what an over! He bowls this one little flat and outside off, Buttler says I am not doing anything with that and shoulders arms. First ball went for a six and then twin wickets means Bangalore are right back in the game. |
7.5 : Will Jos Buttler walk out to the crease now? Yes it is Jos the Boss. He will face the hat-trick ball. Can he keep it out? |
7.6 : The debutant, Shahbaz Ahmed, to bowl now. |
8.1 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Steven Smith, Starts off with a fuller one on off and middle, driven through the covers for a single. |
8.2 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, On middle, tossed up, Buttler paddles it gently towards fine leg and comes back for the second. |
8.3 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, Floated around off, pushed back to the bowler. |
8.4 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Just a push and a boundary results! Floated outside off, Buttler leans in and just drives it gently through the covers. It is to the right of sweeper cover, Finch runs in but fails to stop it. |
8.5 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, Flighted around off, Buttler keeps it out. |
8.6 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, In the air...but falls well safe. Floated around off, Buttler looks to work that on the off side but ends up getting an uppish inside edge. It falls safely ahead of mid on though. |
9.1 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, Flatter and around middle, tucked towards mid-wicket for one. |
0.0 : DRINKS! A series of wickets falling has dented the Men in Pink. Uthappa was exceptional, opening the batting. He was stroking well before departing for 41 from 22 balls. Stokes did not make much of an impact and Samson fell for another single digit score. Imperative for Smith and Buttler to steady the ship before the big propel. |
9.2 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, On off, pushed back to the bowler. |
9.3 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, Goes for the reverse sweep but hits it towards deep cover. Only a run. |
9.4 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, Slower through the air and just outside off, Smith waits for the ball and knocks it towards the off side. Quick single taken. |
9.5 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, One more run! Flatter and on middle, Buttler tucks it down to long on for one. |
9.6 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, Dot to end the 10th over. Gives the ball a lot of air and bowls it wide outside off, unlike Samson, Smits lets it go to the keeper. 80/3 at the halfway mark. |
10.1 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, Low full toss around off, Buttler comes down the track and drives it to wide long off for a single. |
10.2 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Steven Smith, Very full on middle, Smith comes down the track, gets it through the man at cover and takes one. |
10.3 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, SIX! Gets hold of it and deposits it for a maximum. Full and around off, Buttler chips down and powers it over long off for a maximum. |
10.4 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, Follows the boundary with a single by tapping this towards mid on for a single. |
10.5 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Steven Smith, Around off, fuller, bunted down to mid on for a run. |
10.6 : Shahbaz Ahmed to Jos Buttler, A single to end. Full on off and middle, Buttler waits and knocks it past short mid-wicket for a single. |
11.1 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, Flat and wide outside off, the legbreak, Buttler cuts it in front of square on the off side for a single. |
11.2 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, Tossed up on middle, Smith gently paddles it on the on side and takes one. |
11.3 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, Flat and outside off, Buttler knocks it towards point. Looks for a run but Smith is not interested. |
11.4 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, WIDE! Goes too wide this time, outside off. Buttler lets it be. |
Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, BEATEN! Done in by the bounce on that one. Flatter and outside off, Buttler looks to drive but the ball bounces and goes past the outside edge. |
11.5 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Jos Buttler, A single as this is eased towards long on for one. |
11.6 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, Smith eases the shorter ball past mid-wicket and gets to the other end. |
12.1 : Washington Sundar to Steven Smith, Flatter on off, tapped past short mid-wicket for a single. |
12.2 : Washington Sundar to Jos Buttler, Quicker and shorter on leg, Buttler rocks back and looks to go big on the leg side. Misses to get hit on the pad. |
12.3 : Washington Sundar to Jos Buttler, On the shorter side, on middle and leg, clipped towards backward square leg for a single. |
12.4 : Washington Sundar to Steven Smith, On the shorter side outside off, cut to the left of sweeper cover for a couple. 100 up for Rajasthan. |
12.5 : Washington Sundar to Steven Smith, On middle, flat, clipped towards deep mid-wicket. An easy couple. |
12.6 : Washington Sundar to Steven Smith, Single to end the over! Tossed up outside off, Smith eases a run through mid off. |
13.1 : Navdeep Saini to Steven Smith, Shortish and outside off, a little bit of bounce on that. Takes Smith by surprise but he manages to steer it to third man for a single. |
0.0 : Navdeep Saini is back on. 2-0-19-0 are his numbers so far. |
13.2 : Navdeep Saini to Jos Buttler, Outside off, on a length, Buttler taps it to the off side. The longer part of the boundary. Hustles back in for the second with ease. |
13.3 : Navdeep Saini to Jos Buttler, Full on middle, Buttler flicks but finds Chahal at short mid-wicket. Chahal flings a throw at the non-striker's end as Smith had strayed out, looking for the single. But Steven Smith is back in and the ball misses the stumps as well. |
13.4 : Navdeep Saini to Jos Buttler, Back of a length ball around off, Buttler keeps it out on the pitch. |
13.5 : Navdeep Saini to Jos Buttler, Fullish, around off, bunted down to long on for a single. |
13.6 : Navdeep Saini to Steven Smith, Around off on a length, Smith taps it towards long on and takes a single. 5 from that over. |
14.1 : Isuru Udana to Steven Smith, Udana starts his second spell with a slower one outside off, Smith mistimes his drive towards covers. Gets a run. |
0.0 : Isuru Udana is back in. 1-0-17-0 for him. An extremely expensive first over. |
14.2 : Isuru Udana to Jos Buttler, Good length ball on middle, tucked towards the leg side for one. |
14.3 : Isuru Udana to Steven Smith, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Smith gets the chance to flex his arms. He does so and slams it over backward point. No one is in the deep, so it rolls away to the fence. |
14.4 : Isuru Udana to Steven Smith, FOUR! Poor, poor bowling. That will surely not please Kohli. Short, wide and way outside off again, Smith ramps it over short third man this time and finds the fence. |
14.5 : Isuru Udana to Steven Smith, A dot now! Good change up! Full and outside off, fingers rolled. Smith looks to drill it through the off side but doesn't time it well. |
14.6 : Isuru Udana to Steven Smith, A length ball on middle, it is pushed through mid-wicket for an easy one. Smith will keep the strike for the next over. 50-run stand is up between the two. |
Chris Morris is back to bowl his third over. 2-0-8-1 so far. |
15.1 : Chris Morris to Steven Smith, SIX!! Welcome back into the attack, Mr. Morris, says Smith. What a shot! A good length ball right in the slot of Smith. He slams it way over wide long on for a huge six. It looked to be six the moment it left the bat. |
15.2 : Chris Morris to Steven Smith, Low full toss on the pads, flicked to the right side of Finch who is at deep square leg. Does well to get around the ball quickly and keep it down to a run. |
15.3 : Chris Morris to Jos Buttler, WIDE! Bouncer but the line is down the leg side. Buttler looks to pull but fails to connect. Wided. |
Chris Morris to Jos Buttler, OUT! CAUGHT! Morris strikes again! Huge wicket for Bangalore. Buttler hasn't got going and Bangalore would be happy seeing him walk back. A good length ball outside off, Buttler sees room and looks to slam it over extra cover but ends up slicing it high in the air towards mid off. Saini settles under it and takes it easily. The change from Kohli works as he got Morris back in the attack to break the stand and the Protea has delivered for him. |
DRINKS! Buttler falls, just when his side needed to motor on. He and Smith were rebuilding well and entering into the death overs, it was time to accelerate. Rajasthan would be a touch disappointed with that but Parag and Tewatia follow. So, there is no dearth of big hitters. But, it is important for Smith and his side to play out Morris and target the rest. How they go about factoring in that will be interesting. Let's see how it unfolds after drinks. Rahul Tewatia is the man who has stepped ou |
15.4 : Chris Morris to Steven Smith, FOUR! Nothing much Morris could do about that. Length ball outside off, Smith hangs his bat outside the line, gets a thick outside edge. It flies to the third man fence for a boundary. |
15.5 : Chris Morris to Steven Smith, On off, full, Smith hits it across the line and takes a single. |
15.6 : Chris Morris to Rahul Tewatia, Tewatia is up and running on the first ball. A length ball on the pads, he tucks it towards deep square leg and keeps the strike for the next over. 14 runs off the over but the massive wicket of Buttler off it. |
16.1 : Navdeep Saini to Rahul Tewatia, Shortish ball around off, Tewatia pulls it through short mid-wicket and takes a single. |
0.0 : Navdeep Saini to bowl out! 3-0-24-0 from him so far. He would love to finish his spell with at least a wicket to his name. |
16.2 : Navdeep Saini to Steven Smith, Overthrows and a couple. Fullish and nipping in towards off, Smith taps it to short third man and takes a quick single. The fielder flings a throw at the striker's end, it hits the stumps and deflects towards mid on and allows the batters to sneak in an extra run. The umpires want to check for the throw, to see if there was any chance for a run out. Replays are in and....Tewatia was well in. |
16.3 : Navdeep Saini to Steven Smith, Full and on middle and leg, Smith works it to Morris at long on and takes one. |
16.4 : Navdeep Saini to Rahul Tewatia, Short ball, pulled to deep mid-wicket. Just the single though. |
16.5 : Navdeep Saini to Steven Smith, Full and around off, Smith drives but finds the man at wide mid off. He is not happy with himself for picking the fielder out. |
16.6 : Navdeep Saini to Steven Smith, A single to finish. Full and outside off, driven past cover-point for one. |
17.1 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, FOUR! Steven Smith at his very best. Full ball around off, Smith reverse sweeps it aerially over backward point for a boundary. 1,000 runs as skipper of Rajasthan for him, in the League. |
0.0 : Bowling Change. Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl out. 2/16 in his 3 overs so far. |
17.2 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, Smith taps the fuller ball towards long on and takes a single. |
17.3 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Rahul Tewatia, Full ball around middle, Tewatia is down the track. Looks to heave it on the leg side but ends up mistiming it through the carpet on the leg side. A single. |
17.4 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, NO BALL AND FOUR! Chahal oversteps here. Bowls a full one around off, Smith hits it aerially over the bowler's head towards long on for a boundary. He gets to his half ton with that as well. |
Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, CAUGHT OFF A FREE HIT! Around off, Smith goes big over the leg side but ends up hitting it straight down the throat of Padikkal at deep mid-wicket. The catch is taken but it does not matter as it was a Free hit. The batters run a single. |
17.5 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Rahul Tewatia, Looks to reverse sweep one down the leg side, misses, Tewatia. So does the keeper. A bye sneaked in. |
17.6 : Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, Four! Innovative way to get a boundary. The batsman spots the leg spin and reverse sweeps it through covers. |
Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, NO BALL AND FOUR! Oh dear, Chahal, what are you doing here? Second time he has overstepped in this over. Fullish ball, spinning away from Smith, outside off. Smith gets into position for another reverse sweep and hits it in front of square on the off side and gets a boundary. |
Yuzvendra Chahal to Steven Smith, A single to finish. Smith works this on the leg side and takes a single. |
18.1 : Isuru Udana to Steven Smith, Good start to the over for Bangalore! A full ball on middle, Smith can only dig it out to long on for a run. |
18.2 : Isuru Udana to Rahul Tewatia, SIX! Nicely done! Tewatia gets into the action. A full toss outside off, Tewatia uses his wrists and just flicks it way over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. |
0.0 : Isuru Udana to bowl this third over. 2-0-28-0 so far. |
18.3 : Isuru Udana to Rahul Tewatia, Two now! Full toss, Tewatia strokes it firmly to deep point. The fielder there does well to stop it and a couple is sneaked in by Rajasthan. |
18.4 : Isuru Udana to Rahul Tewatia, DOT! Wide yorker outside off, Tewatia tries to paddle/ramp it past short fine leg but misses to get hit on the pad. He loses his balance in the process and they can't go for the run. |
18.5 : Isuru Udana to Rahul Tewatia, Two! Low full toss around off, Tewatia drills it down the ground. The long on fielder makes a fine sliding stop and relays the ball to the long off fielder. |
18.6 : Isuru Udana to Rahul Tewatia, FOUR! Top way to end the over! 15 off it. A full toss outside off, Tewatia shuffules to the off side and paddles it past the short fine leg fielder for a boundary. Not a good outing in this game for the Sri Lankan. 43 in his 3 overs. |
19.1 : Chris Morris to Steven Smith, Dot to begin the last over. Full and wide outside off, Smith looks to drive but the ball takes the inner half and goes back to the bowler. |
18.6 : Who will bowl the last over? Chris Morris it is. 3-0-22-2 for him. Excellent. Can he finish it off well? |
19.2 : Chris Morris to Steven Smith, OUT! CAUGHT! Brilliant take from Ahmed. Stunning catch and that is the end of Smith's fine knock. Morris bowls it short and wide outside off, Smith reaches out and slices it high in the air towards deep point. Ahmed there, runs to his right, judges it to perfection and takes it superbly, just near the ropes. The umpires want to confirm if it is a clean catch. Replays confirm it is. |
19.1 : Has that been taken cleanly? The umpires are having a look. Looks a stunner to the naked eye. What do the replays say? OUT, it reads on the big scoreboard. |
19.3 : Chris Morris to Rahul Tewatia, Full toss around off, flicked down to deep mid-wicket for just a run. |
19.2 : Jofra Archer walks out to the middle now. |
19.4 : Chris Morris to Jofra Archer, Another dot! This is turning out to be a superb over. A slower good length ball outside off, Archer swings hard but connects only with thin air. |
19.5 : Chris Morris to Jofra Archer, WIDE! Tries to bowl a wide length ball inside the tramline. Archer reaches out fails to connect. Wided by the umpire. |
Chris Morris to Jofra Archer, A couple! Low full toss outside off, Archer looks to slam it over long off but fails to connect. It goes to mid off. Before the fielder from long off can get to the ball, they scamper back for the second. |
19.6 : Chris Morris to Jofra Archer, OUT! LBW! THREE REDS! Excellent way to end the innings. Just 4 off the last over. A yorker on middle, Archer looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pad, right in front of the stumps. The ball rolls towards the leg side and they go for a run. However, as Morris appeals, the finger is raised. Archer reviews it. Replays roll in and it confirms that the on-field call is the correct one. Morris ends with a 4-fer. Rajasthan end with 177/6. |
19.5 : Review time, on the last ball! Archer has opted for a review against the on-field LBW decision. What does technology have to say? UltraEdge says nothing on the bat, big gap between bat and ball. THREE REDS on the Ball Tracker. On-field decision stays. |
19.6 : Bangalore finish the last over well, containing the damage that could have been meted out. Overall though, Rajasthan have done exceedingly well. To get to close to 180 after a string of wickets fell at the start is truly outstanding. Their bowlers have a good deal to defend now. |
Ben Stokes opened alongside Uthappa for Rajasthan. That move paid good dividends as Uthappa was stroking fluently. Stokes however was struggling and fell towards the end of the Powerplay, for 15. Samson then came in, smashed a massive biggie off Chahal. But then, he and Uthappa fell in quick succession. Uthappa departed after a good 41 off 22 balls. Then the skipper and Buttler strung an important 58-run partnership for the 5th wicket. |
Buttler fell but Smith stayed on, got to a good half ton, before falling in the end. Tewatia also chipped in with a handy cameo and saw Rajasthan past 175, which is a very good total to defend, given how the tracks are progressively slowing. |
Bangalore lost the plot after having taken a series of wickets at the start - Stokes, Uthappa and Samson. They could not contain the 5th wicket partnership and their bowlers were targetted all over the park. Udana was the one who bore the brunt of it. Morris was exceptional, 4/26 from his 4 overs. Chahal got two but was a touch expensive. A tough day for the Bangalore bowlers overall. |
Before the chase, Robin Uthappa is up for a chat. Says that it has been a while, 2 years since he opened the batting. Very happy to get the team off to a good start, he says. Adds that because of that start, the team managed to get to this good total. States that after getting to a good start, the key was building partnerships in the middle, which in turn would set the platform for a good total. Uthappa says that they were aiming for something around 180 and they would take this total happily. |
A daunting task awaits Bangalore now. They do have the batting depth but a task awaits them as Rajasthan would fancy taking the honours after that exceptional batting performance. A mouth-watering chase awaits us on the other side. Do join us for that... |