IPL 2021 Match 22 Review: RCB ward off late DC heroics to earn 1-run win

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A place at the top of the table, albeit temporary, was at stake during the clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC). 

IPL 2021 Match 22 Review:

Toss and Team News 

Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to bowl first. R Ashwin, who departed the bio-bubble yesterday, was replaced by an extra pacer in the form of Ishant Sharma.

Virat Kohli named two changes to the lineup that suffered a heavy defeat to CSK. Rajat Patidar was introduced back into the attack and Daniel Sams was given his maiden appearance for the season.

ABD classic propels RCB to a competitive total 

Virat Kohli (12) and Devdutt Padikkal (17) were unable to replicate their staggering opening partnership against RR. Avesh Khan (1-24) and Ishant Sharma (1-26) were able to bowl both the batsmen off with successive deliveries midway through the powerplay.

After a string of failures, Rajat Patidar (30) made a solid start as RCB finished the powerplay with 36 runs.

Spinners Amit Mishra (1-27) and Axar Patel (1-33) took command of the middle overs. The all-rounder scalped the wicket of Glenn Maxwell, who departed following a couple of sixes.

Rajat Patidar got a move on things as AB de Villiers (71) settled down. The former lost his wicket while trying to accelerate, only to hole out to long-on.

It was the de Villiers show from that point on as the southpaw registered his 40th IPL fifty. Amid a building sandstorm, Marcus Stoinis (0-23) was handed the final over of the innings.

The South African slammed three sixes off the final over to boost RCB to a total of 171-5. The sandstorm intensified during the mid-innings break and brought a delay to the chase.

Pant-Hetmyer almost take the team home 

Orange cap holder Shikhar Dhawan (6) departed early and only for the second time during the powerplay this season. The extra bounce from Kyle Jamieson (1-32) troubled the left-handed player, ultimately handing one to Chahal (0-10) to fine-leg.

Steve Smith (4) had a short stay as well with in-form Mohammad Siraj (1-44) packing him up with a vintage test match dismissal.

The pair of Prithvi Shaw (21) and Rishabh Pant (58) employed a cautious approach after losing two early wickets. The opener had to walk back to the pavilion after attempting to play a wide delivery from Harshal Patel (2-37). The edge was carefully pouched by de Villiers behind the stumps.

Boundaries were hard to come by courtesy of tight bowling by the RCB bowling unit. The required run-rate kept creeping up and it was up to 14 as the death overs began.

While the skipper struggled to get a hold of his timing, Shimron Hetmyer (53) at the end switched to the fifth gear.

The Caribbean batsman slammed 3 sixes off Jamieson’s final over to bring the equation to 25 off the last 2 overs.

He brought up his fifty in just 23 deliveries as DC needed 14 runs to win off the final over.

Siraj began the final over with two singles and followed it up with a dot to reduce the equation to 12 off 3. Pant brought up his fifty off 46 balls with a double which continued to keep Hetmyer off the strike.

Siraj bowled a full toss pursuing a yorker which earned DC four runs, the delivery barely survived from being called a waist-high no-ball.

The pacer culminated the action with a wide yorker, while Pant was able to dispatch it away for a four, they fell short and suffered a heart-breaking 1-run defeat.

Brief Scorecard

RCB 171-5 (20 overs) (de Villiers 71; A.Khan 1-24)

DC 170- 4 (20 overs) (R.Pant 58; H.Patel 2-37)

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