Mumbai: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) registered their fifth victory in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, defeating the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 18 runs. A captain’s knock at the top from Faf du Plessis (96) with an exceptional four-wicket haul from Josh Hazlewood led RCB to an 18-run victory.
Dushmantha Chameera provided a terrific start for LSG with the ball. He claimed the wickets of Anuj Rawat and Virat Kohli in the first over. Glenn Maxwell joined skipper Faf du Plessis to counter-attack Chameera.
Krunal Pandya dismissed Maxwell as Jason Holder successfully grabbed a diving catch. Royal Challengers Bangalore were 47-3 at the end of the powerplay. Suyash Prabhudessai was caught off Holder’s bowling as Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their 4th wicket. Royal Challengers Bangalore were 87-4 at the half-way stag. Shahbaz Ahmed and du Plessis stitched a fifty partnership thereafter. Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper reached his half-century but the 70-run partnership came to an end after Shahbaz Ahmed was run-out for 26. Skipper du Plessis moved into the 90s and Royal Challengers Bangalore were 164-5 with two overs to go. Dinesh Karthik hammered a six in the penultimate over. Jason Holder dismissed the Royal Challenegers Bangalore skipper for 96 in the last over while Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a total of 181/6.
Chasing 182 LSG lost Quinton de Kock’s wicket early. LSG skipper KL Rahul started his innings on a confident note with 2 fours and a six. However, Hazlewood scalped his second wicket to dismiss Manish Pandey. Krunal Pandya struck two fours as LSG were 44-2 at the end of the powerplay.
Harshal Patel managed to dismiss the LSG skipper, who was caught behind for 30. Krunal Pandya was looking in good touch as LSG were 83-3 at the half-way stage. The hundred was up for LSG in the 12th over before Royal Challengers Bangalore claimed two quick wickets.
Prabhudessai caught Deepak with a sharp running catch in the outfield. Krunal’s innings came to an end after the left-hander holed out to the deep. LSG required 65 from the final five overs, with Marcus Stoinis and Ayush Badoni at the crease. Hazlewood claimed Badoni as the equation was down to 34 off the final two overs. Hazlewood castled Stoinis to pick his 4th wicket of the innings as Royal Challengers Bangalore won the game by 18 runs in the end.
Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 181/6 (Faf du Plessis 96; Shahbaz Ahmed 26; Jason Holder 2-25) beat Lucknow Super Giants 163/8 (Krunal Pandya 42, KL Rahul 30; Josh Hazlewood 4-25) by 18 runs.
 beat Lucknow Super Giants 163/8 (Krunal Pandya 42) by 18 runs.){kind=link}