IPL 2018 : Royal Challengers Bangalore Beat Mumbai Indians By 14 Runs

Picture Credit : BCCI

After a tough talk by RCB skipper Virat Kohli, the team came out with a much improved all- round show to beat the Mumbai Indians by 14 runs in  a crucial  IPL encounter in Bengaluru.

Captain Virat Kohli (32) and Brendon McCullum (37) added 60 quick runs in the middle overs to help RCB recover from a slow start. Towards the end  Colin de Grandhomme (23 from 10) hit three sixes in the last over, bowled by fellow New Zealander Mitchell McClenaghan that went for massive 24 runs. The timely cameo helped RCB post 167 / 7 . The agony in Rohit Sharma’s face of the onslaught said it all.

The last over blitz proved to be the difference at the end . Hardik Pandya (3/28) scalped three batsmen and effected a run out to stop the hosts from running away with a big total .

Chasing 168, RCB bowlers bowled with fire and determination . Umesh Yadav, came up with an hostile spell upfront to peg Mumbai Indians back while Tim Southee (2/25) and Mohammed Siraj (2/28) came good in death overs to halt Mumbai. Southee got rid of Ishan Kishan (0) Umesh scalped Suryakumar Yadav leg before wicket (9) and  had Mumbai  skipper Rohit Sharma with a gem of a delivery for (0) off successive balls caught brilliantly by Quinton De Kock , in the fourth over. This rattled Mumbai and the team  in the end could manage only 153 for 7 in 20 overs .

It was great win for RCB and keeps  alive their chances of  a play- offs berth. A delighted and relieved RCB skipper Virat Kohli dedicated the 14 run to his wife Anushka Sharma who turned 30 . It was according to him a birthday gift to her.

With this win, RCB moved to fifth place in the table with six points ahead of Rajasthan Royals while Mumbai are seventh with just four points from eight matches.