Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets thanks to a precise effort by pacer Rasikh Salam Dar (4/24) in an IPL encounter in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
LSG was bowled out for 146, its lowest total of the season, after being sent in to bat. Mitchell Marsh (40 off 32) and Ayush Badoni (38 off 24) were the only significant contributors.
In addition to Rasikh, Hazlewood took one wicket while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27) and Krunal Pandya (2/38) also contributed.
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In response, RCB overcame the target, reaching 149/5 in 15.1 overs, thanks to quick runs from opener Virat Kohli (49), captain Rajat Patidar (27), and Jitesh Sharma (23).
For LSG, Prince Yadav (3/32) and Avesh Khan (2/23) shared the wickets. The Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant had to quit hurt on zero after taking a knock to his left elbow from RCB pacer Hazlewood, making the evening even more dismal.
But later, when his team was struggling at 118/5 following Ayush Badoni’s dismissal in the 16th over, Pant came back to bat for a short while.
The Australian pacer helped RCB limit LSG to 35/1 in the Powerplay by bowling three straight overs, giving up only 10 runs while taking one wicket.
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In addition to ending struggling Pant’s stay at the crease, Hazlewood (4-0-20-1) caused further suffering for the visitors by dismissing Nicholas Pooran, who was out of form and pulled the pacer onto his stumps.
Hazlewood took Jacob Duffy’s position in the starting lineup, and his lengths were so perfect that none of the LSG batters could find any room to get him out.
After the Aussie’s poor performance against Rajasthan Royals a few days ago, RCB would also be relieved to see him back at his best.
Veteran speed partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/27), who found significant swing to torment LSG batters, provided him with excellent support.
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During his 32-ball 40, Mitchell Marsh struck several big hits, including two enormous sixes from Bhuvneshwar that soared out of the stadium and Krunal Pandya. However, Marsh was forced to reach out for the ball as Pandya deftly slowed his tempo, which caused him to edge the ball onto his stumps.
In comparison to earlier games played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the pitch was a little slower, but there was nothing about it that the batters could not have worked out. The LSG batsmen managed to score 72 runs in eight overs against spinners Suyash Sharma and Pandya.
After just a few balls, Pant whipped Bhuvneshwar to Phil Salt in the deep.
Despite their best efforts, Badoni (38, 24b) and Mukul Choudhary (39, 28b) were unable to stop the damage done at the top of the LSG innings. They struggled in the final five overs as well, scoring just 34 runs at a cost of six wickets.
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