Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League homecoming went awry as Gujarat Titans registered a thumping eight-wicket victory with greater than two overs to spare on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium right here on Wednesday.
A fiery fast-bowling efficiency from RCB old-timer Mohammed Siraj (three for 19) and an effervescent batting effort from Jos Buttler (73 n.o., 39b, 5×4, 6×6) introduced Titans their second victory from three matches, even because it handed RCB its first defeat in three.
Chasing a modest 170, the guests didn’t set the PowerPlay ablaze, scoring simply 42 runs for the lack of skipper Shubman Gill (14, 14b, 1×4, 1×6). However Buttler’s calculated assault within the middle-overs ensured that the Titans have been all the time forward of the curve.
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The 34-year-old attacked Affect Participant Rasikh Dar, smoking him for 2 sixes on the leg-side within the ninth over, after which carted Liam Livingstone for a six and a 4 within the fifteenth over to convey up his half-century from 31 balls.
Affect Participant Sherfane Rutherford proved the perfect associate (30 n.o., 18b, 1×4, 3×6) and the 2 smashed Josh Hazlewood for 3 sixes within the 18th over to convey the competition to a manic finish.
Put into bat, RCB was reeling at 42 for 4 as Titans’ tempo trio of Siraj, Arshad Khan and Ishant Sharma bowled brief and into the physique and reaped the fitting rewards.
Virat Kohli was out caught at long-leg whereas Phil Salt was cleaned up by Siraj. Devdutt Padikkal’s stumps have been rearranged by Siraj whereas skipper Rajat Patidar was trapped in entrance by Ishant.
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However Livingstone (54, 40b, 1×4, 5×6) mixed for 52 runs with a hustling Jitesh Sharma (33, 21b, 5×4, 1×6) and for 46 runs with the towering Tim David (32, 18b, 3×4, 2×6).
The 31-year-old was reprieved by Rahul Tewatia at long-on when on 9 and he duly capitalised. At one stage he was on 35 from 34 balls however took a particular liking to Rashid Khan and caned the leggie for 39 from simply 17 balls.
The three maximums within the 18th over gave RCB the ending kick that helped it amass 64 runs from the final 5 overs. However in the long run, even that proved insufficient.