After throwing away winning positions in their last three games, Rajasthan Royals finally crossed the finishing line, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets to register their first win of the season. Royal Challengers Bangalore, on the other, lost their fourth game in a row.
Chasing a modest 159, the Royals were off to a solid start with Ajinkya Rahane and Jos Buttler adding 60 runs for the first wicket. The partnership was ended in the eighth over when Yuzvendra Chahal trapped Rahane for 22. Buttler, however, did not let Royal Challengers capitalise on the breakthrough as he went on to score his second fifty of the season to lay the foundation for the chase. Chahal came to Royal Challengers rescued again when he dismissed Buttler for 60 to revive his team’s slim hopes.
? @josbuttler ? #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/7YEhwDsuD8
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2019
Steve Smith and Rahul Tripathi then shared a 50-run stand to all but seal the game before the former departed with the team needing 4 from six balls. Tripathi then finished the proceedings with a six on the fifth ball of the final over.
Asked to bat first, the Royal Challengers were off to a poor start once again. Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel did manage to keep the wickets intact in powerplay while scoring 48 runs but things soon turned when Shreyas Gopal was introduced in the attack. On the very second ball after the powerplay, he castled Virat Kohli for 23. In his following two overs, he accounted for AB de Villiers (13) and Shimron Hetmyer (1) to leave the Royal Challengers reeling at 73 for 3.
Parthiv and Marcus Stoinis then provided the innings some stability by sharing 53-run stand for the fourth wicket. During the stand, Parthiv scored his fastest IPL fifty, reaching the milestone in just 29 deliveries. Jofra Archer broke the stand by dismissing Parthiv for 67. Parthiv’s knock came off 41 deliveries and contained nine fours and a six. Stoinis and Moeen Ali then added 32 runs in the final 16 balls to help Royal Challengers Bangalore finish on 158 for 4.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
#RCB is like that student in college who buys all the books, collects all notes and assignments before exams, hangs around with toppers all the time and yet finishes last in the class.
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 2, 2019
Shreyas Gopal in today's match #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/1bKPCIphGD
— Sand-d Singh (@Sand_In_Deed) April 2, 2019
The day when the student (Buttler) outdid the master (AB) #RRvRCB
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 2, 2019
Rcb Contribution to Indian Premier League#IPL2019 #RRvRCB #RCBvRR pic.twitter.com/44CbV18CUx
— अभिव्यक्ति की आजादी (@Man_ki_azzadi) April 2, 2019
To a RCB supporter: "Still planning to support RCB going forward?"
RCB supporter: #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/G2S1XrvYzw
— Rashi (@rashi_kakkar) April 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/Aryann45_/status/1107313696471048192
Me: Sir is baar bottom of table kaunsi team rahegi ? https://t.co/d7LFDGEly9
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 2, 2019
the floor is ipl trophy and the ball is captaincy#RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/RbLG9koRRn
— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/1113118225930215426
Umesh Yadav should retire asap.
— Wolfgang (@UniqueIdiot_) April 2, 2019
Virat Kohli has gone 7 consecutive innings in IPL without reaching fifty – his longest 50 drought in the tournament since 2014. Undone again by a leg-spinner today. #RRvRCB
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) April 2, 2019
RCB PSL level ki team hai
— Wolfgang (@UniqueIdiot_) April 2, 2019
When your Salary credited to your ac without deducting TDS. pic.twitter.com/AOBsaSWZHn
— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 2, 2019
RCB has crossed 70 Run mark , moral victory #RCBvRR
— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) April 2, 2019
RCB’s top guns, Kohli and ABD, failing to get going has been the team’s bane this season yet…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 2, 2019