IPL 2021- MI Vs RCB REVIEW

Courtesy : Cricinfo.com

“Cricket is one of those reassuring sports where long-time fans could take enormous comfort and solace  in the fact that very little was likely to change “ – a RCB Fan’s raconteur. And the little change happened tonight as RCB scored its first win at M.A.C. stadium.

Another cliff-hanger and edge of the seat moment.  And an unexpected hero Harshal Patel claiming Firstever fifer in an IPL match  in Mumbai Indians (MI) innings set the tone for an enthralling finish at M.A. Chidambaram stadium, Chennai in the first match of the 2021 season tonight.

After being put into bat by Virat Kohli, Mumbai batsmen had an off- day today in a wretched pitch as except Chris Lynn, who was swinging his bat scored 49 runs.  All the bigwigs of MI failed with the bat including their skipper, Rohit Sharma.  And  they were restricted with 159 runs despite sloppy fielding by RCB players dropping catches at will and thanks to an inspiring  bowling spell by Harshal Patel. 

RCB  did start well scoring at the rate of 9 runs an over in the first 4 overs.  Then they started losing a couple of wickets before the new buy for RCB, Glenn Maxwell and Kohli brought cheers to RCB fans putting 52 runs in double quick time.  Glenn Maxwell’s penchant for switch hit paid off today also as he carted both spinners, Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya with mighty sixes.

Take a bow AB De Villiers for the excellent batting at the death overs almost ensured the win for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Mr.360 was in his element as he clobbered 2  mighty heaves over the rope and 2 fours each of the bowling of the leggie, Rahul Chahar and Trent Boult . 

With19 runs off 12 balls, ABD took on the game’s best death overs specialist, Jasprit Bumrah, a beautiful cover drive in the arc between fielders racing to the boundary and a slice between point and third man  clearing the ropes.  And trying to keep strike in  the next over ABD called for a single, but the tall New Zealander Kyle Jamieson, ( who debuted for IPL) who was the striker reacted late and was ambling towards the danger end sacrificed his wicket.

And the onerous task of defending 7 runs in the final over, the young rookie left arm pacer Marco Jansen, debutant from South Africa, who already had two wickets in the same over, accepted the challenge.  And without any panic reaction Jansen bowled a tight line and ABD was RUN OUT  leaving  at “2 balls and 2 runs”  and Harshal Patel, the” Man of the Match “ hit the winning run as RCB dug-out heaved a sigh of relief.