Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer’s fifties went in vain as Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals by 1 run.
AB de Villiers smashed 73* runs in 41 balls as Royal Challengers Bangalore posted 171/5 in 20 overs after Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Rishabh Pant won the toss and put Bangalore in to bat.
They were in a spot of bother as they kept losing wickets regularly and none of the batters could convert the start.
But AB de Villiers once again enhanced his reputation with a superlative innings.
His unbeaten 75 off just 42 balls, including 23 off the final over propelled them to 172, a target that proved to be just enough.
He first repaired the innings with a 54-run stand with Rajat Patidar (31 from 22) before launching into three sixes against Marcus Stoinis in the final over. The 23 runs from that over shifted the balance in RCB’s favour.
Delhi start poorly
Chasing 173, Delhi did not get off to a good start as Dhawan and Smith both departed in the Power play.
Shaw was looking good but failed to convert his start.
Stoinis too failed to kick off after getting a start.
With 81 needed off 44 balls, it looked like Delhi were out of it.
Pant was struggling to time the ball and Hetmyer hadn’t batted much this season.
However, Hetmyer kept the match alive with a brilliant innings.
His 53 off 25 almost snatched the victory from Bangalore but Pant, unfortunately, could not do the job in the final over as Delhi failed by just a mere run.
Needing 77 to win, Hetmeyer joined Pant at 97/4 in the 13th over.
His three sixes off Kyle Jamieson in the 18th over made for an exciting finish.
However, RCB’s Mohammed Siraj defended 14 runs in the last over as Pant struggled to clear the ropes, and Hetmyer was at the wrong end.
Another hero for RCB was pacer Siraj who was brilliant especially in the final over, defending 13.
Harshal Patel was once again amongst the wickets as he finished with a brace.
Siraj and Jamieson grabbed one each.
Sundar and Chahal went wicketless but were economical.
Bangalore move to the top of the points table for the moment.
Royal Challengers Bangalore 171 for 5 (de Villiers 75*, Patidar 31, Harshal 2-37) beat Delhi Capitals 170 for 4 (Pant 58*, Hetmyer 53*) by one run
