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Du Plessis leads RCB to thumping victory against GT

cricket04 May 2024 17:50
By:Neil Manthorp
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Faf Du plessis @ Sportspics

Faf du Plessis delivered one of his most destructive IPL innings to lead the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to an imposing 4-wicket victory with a staggering 6.2 overs to spare after choosing to bat second in their IPL match against the Gujarat Titans at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.

A near-immaculate bowling and fielding display restricted the Titans to 147 all out in 19.3 overs but the home side had to withstand a comical collapse from 92-0 to 117-6 before romping to victory with Dinesh Karthik spanking 21* from 12 balls.

Du Plessis was ferocious and inventive from the first ball delivering 10 fours and three sixes in a searing innings of 64 from just 23 balls while opening partner, Virat Kohli, was an ardent admirer with 42 from 27 balls in an opening stand of 92 in just 5.5 overs.

The ensuing collapse was due to RCB’s desperation to improve their net run-rate in pursuit of a highly improbably place in the Play Off stages and resulted in Irish left armer, Josh Little, finishing with 4-45 in his first game of the tournament as RCB’s middle order launched themselves at every delivery.

Earlier RCB’s left arm seamer, Yash Dayal (4-0-21-2), was outstanding but so were Mohammad Siraj (2-29) and Australian allrounder Cameron Green who claimed 1-28 from his full quota of four overs.

The Gujarati visitors slumped to 19-3 in 5.3 overs as a series of optimistic swipes and slogs fell tamely into fielders’ hands until a mini-revival in the middle order saw Shahrukh Khan (37), David Miller (30) and Rahul Tewatia (35) attempt to revive hopes of a more competitive total.

Shahrukh was run out in a miserable mix-up with his partner and Miller, after three fours and two huge, trademark sixes, was among the litany of Titans batsman who miscued attempted legside heaves.

The hosts, who started in last place on the log, still need to win all three of their remaining matches and then hope that a series of highly unlikely other results go their way to have any chance of reaching the Play Off stages.

The Titans are now even less likely to continue their tournament beyond the group stages with just three wins from 11 games. Mathematical miracles will be required by both teams.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (captain), Will Jacks, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Karn Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak

GUJARAT TITANS: Wriddhiman Saha (wkt), Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma, Joshua Little

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