IPL 2021: DC vs RCB Review – Siraj keeps calm as RCB edge past by 1 run
The Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers were able to keep their calm through a late assault by Shimron Hetymer as Delhi Capitals went down in a thriller in Ahmedabad on Monday night. It was as close as it could get, with RCB eventually sneaking a 1-run victory.
De Villiers does it again
Earlier in the day, Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first. Delhi started well with the ball as they got the RCB openers inside the Powerplay. Glenn Maxwell came on and scored a 20-ball 24 to stabilise the innings. Rajat Patidar made 31 off 22 balls, before AB de Villiers took over and played his usual blitzkrieg innings. The South African batted magnificently to power RCB to a strong total. De Villiers scored 75 off 42 balls, scoring 23 runs off the last over bowled by Marcus Stoinis. Each of the Delhi bowlers got a wicket, except Stoinis.
Delhi falter with the bat
Like Bangalore, Delhi’s innings also didn’t start well. They lost Shikhar Dhawan and Steve Smith early in the innings. When Prithvi Shaw was dismissed at 47 for 3, Marcus Stoinis joined captain Rishabh Pant in the middle.
Stoinis got out for 22 but it was Pant and Hetymer who kept DC’s hopes alive. With the required rate climbing, Hetymer took charge smashing 53 off just 25 balls. Pant remained undefeated on 58, as Delhi fell short by one run. For RCB, it was Mohammed Siraj who delivered the almost perfect last over, which won them the match. He picked up a wicket, so did Kyle Jamieson. Harshal Patel picked up two scalps.
Turning points
De Villiers’ fifty: The difference between Delhi and Bangalore was the knock that de Villiers played. As Delhi kept striking with the ball, ABD at one end, held the innings together before exploding towards the end.
Pant’s slow knock: Before his last two balls, which went for fours, Pant reached his fifty off 46 balls. On the other end, Hetymer was striking at more than 200. As Delhi lost by just one run, Pant’s knock can be called as a decisive factor. Most of the players in this match, who got to more than 20 runs, had a better strike rate than him.
Personal records/Achievements
- AB de Villiers now has the most undefeated 75+ scores in the IPL (11)
- Prithvi Shaw completed 1000 IPL runs
- Glenn Maxwell reached 100 sixes
- AB de Villiers became the 2nd overseas batsman after David Warner to complete 5000 IPL runs
Way ahead
RCB will now face Punjab Kings on April 30 while Delhi will play Kolkata on April 29. Both matches will be played in Ahmedabad.
