Before the start of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru versus Lucknow Super Giants game, there was a sea of red shirts outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium. And many were chanting – Kohli, Kohli. However, Mayank Yadav, the new pace-bowling sensation, once again turned out to be the star of the day, ripping through RCB’s batting line-up with pace and hit-the-deck skills. Eventually, RCB could muster 153 in a chase of 182 to slip to their third loss in four games.
Mayank Yadav’s heroics
The fast bowler from Delhi ran through the cream of RCB’s batting, dismissing Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Rajat Patidar. The highlight of his short spells was the ball to Green. The release was meant for an outswinger, but he hit the deck hard and the ball jagged back in at pace to shatter the timber. He also dislodged Maxwell with a very good short of a length delivery. The USP of that ball was again extra bounce as it hit higher up on the splice, with Maxwell struggling to land the pull.
Patidar looked decent against Mayank in his short stay before he top-edged one off the pace bowler to fine leg. It was probably lack of temperament that let Patidar down as he took on a delivery that was bowled outside off and it once more kicked a little extra. Mayank Yadav brings with him a deadly combination of bounce and genuine pace. If he remains reasonably fit, he is set to trouble a lot more batters. On a side note, Naveen-ul-Haq also played a role by bagging two wickets.
Mahipal Lomror’s valiant effort
The southpaw took a heavy toll on Naveen and Yash Thakur by clubbing three sixes and two boundaries over two overs. Thakur, though, had the last laugh as he removed Lomror for 33 off only 13 deliveries. Long ago, Lomror was known for his pyrotechnics in Raj Singh Dungarpur and Vijay Merchant tournaments. Maybe this is the season when he will fulfil his potential.
Quinton de Kock, the mainstay of LSG’s batting effort
It was a quintessential de Kock (81 runs off 56 deliveries) innings as he essayed some fluent drives, pick-up shots, cuts and flat-batted shots. Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Mayank Dagar and Cameron Green, all the RCB bowlers came in for some punishment at the hands of de Kock. The opener also strung together key stands of 43 with KL Rahul and 56 with Marcus Stoinis to lay the platform for a substantial score on a deck that was slightly on the slower side.
Pooran sparkles
In the slog overs, Nicholas Pooran also found his touch to crack a quickfire 40 off only 21 deliveries. The left-handed batter cracked a slew of shots while facing Topley and Siraj. Topley, though, would count himself unlucky as he had deceived Pooran with a brilliant back of the hand slower one in the 17th over, only for Anuj Rawat to drop the chance. To make matters worse for Rawat, he also had a poor day with the bat.
At this point of time, LSG are looking like one of the front-runners, and Mayank has been their trump card. They now find themselves in fourth place with four points.