#VIVOIPL 2021 : In A Thriller, Royal Challengers Bangalore Beat Delhi Capitals By 1 Run

Picture : Twitter / IPL

Royal Challengers Bangalore won a thrilling encounter at Ahmedabad as they beat Delhi Capitals by a mere 1 run at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The won took RCB to the top position the points table

Earlier Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to field first. Skipper Virat Kohli fell for 12 to Avesh Khan , while Devdutt Padikkal was bowled by a beauty from Ishant Sharma for 17. Rajat Patidar scored ( 31), Glenn Maxwell ( 25) . But the star of the batting was once again the legend ABD, AB de Villiers was brilliant in his trademark counter- attacking style scoring a blazing unbeaten 75 off of 42 balls with 3 fours and five sixes. Marcus Stoinis conceding 23 in in the final over – wd,2,6,0,6,6,2 . This proved costly at the end and virtually decided the match. RCB reaching 171/5 in their 20 overs.

Delhi capitals bowling figures read : Ishant Sharma 1/26 ( 4 overs), Kagiso Rabada 1/38 ( 4 overs), Avesh Khan 1/24 ( 4 overs), Amit Mishra 1/27 ( 3 overs), Axar Patel 1/33 ( 4 overs) Marcus Stoinis 0/23 ( 1 over)

Delhi Capitals needed a good start with their in- from opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw. Bot were guilty of poor shot selection . Dhawan fell for 6, Shaw chasing a wide one for 21. Steve Smith hit an imperious 4 before he was out to a beauty from Mohammed Siraj. Marcus Stoinis promised much in his 17 balls 22 but could not carry on. Pressure was on skipper Rishabh Pant . Pant with wickets falling around him. Curbed his attacking style and played a rather uncharacteristic 58 off 48 balls with 6 fours. Though he stayed till the end he could not take his team over the line. But the credit for DC going so near yet so far goes to West Indian Shimron Hetmyer.

Hetmyer was brilliant and scored a quick – fire 25 ball unbeaten 53 with two fours and four sixes. He was in tears at the end . So too was Pant who looked dejected.Delhi needed 14 runs from the last six deliveries, and got just six from the first five. Six were needed off the last ball, but Pant could only get four and RCB escaped to victory. RCB skipper Virat Kohli consoled Pant and Hetmyer after RCB won by 1 run. Delhi finishing at 170/4 in their 20 overs.

RCB bowling figures were : Daniel Sams 0/15 ( 2 overs), Mohammed Siraj 1/44 ( 4 overs), Kyle Jamieson 1/32 ( 4 overs), Washington Sundar 0/28 ( 4 overs), Harshal Patel 2/37 ( 4 overs), Yuzvendra Chahal 0/10 ( 2 overs)