Thirty-one days and 743 hours – the gap between Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first and second victory in IPL 2024. After a poor run, RCB finally found their mojo, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground by 35 runs. SRH could muster 171 in a chase of 207.
Rajat Patidar’s knock proves to be the telling difference
When RCB’s score read 65 for 2 after six overs, Patidar walked out to bat and ended up with a game-breaking 20-ball 50. It was Mayank Markrande who came in for some severe punishment, with the right-hander clonking the leg-spinner for four sixes in a row. Patidar’s strength while facing spin or pace is about picking the length early and that was on full display in Hyderabad. Patidar, however, would be a tad disappointed that he once more couldn’t convert his fifty into a bigger score.
Contributions right through the batting order
Cameron Green, batting at No. 5, made a vital contribution of 37 off just 20 balls, while Faf du Plessis played a little cameo at the top of the order. Dinesh Karthik and Swapnil Singh too cracked a few lusty blows down the order. Virat Kohli accumulated a fifty, but he took 43 deliveries to reach that score. In Kohli’s defence, the track was a tad two-paced.
RCB’s bowlers chip away
The RCB attack has come under severe scrutiny for putting up below par performances. So, the think-tank would be gladdened by the fact that the team put on a collective performance. Five of the seven bowlers – Will Jacks, Yash Dayal, Swapnil, Karn Sharma and Green – shared the wickets between them. Green returned fine figures of 2 for 12 from two overs. RCB’s move to open the bowling with Jacks worked wonders as he removed the dangerous Travis Head, while Swapnil dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, the explosive middle-order batter.
Unadkat sticks to his strengths, reaps the reward
The experienced Unadkat was given the task of bowling slower ones from round the wicket, and he did his job to perfection. He also used the dimensions of the ground well by mainly bowling short of a length and away from the batters’ zone. Kohli, Patidar and Mahipal Lomror were his victims as he finished with impressive figures of 3 for 30 from four overs.