Thank You RCB, Says Dane van Niekerk As RCB Get Back To Winning Ways

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally came up with a convincing performance on Tuesday (May 1). With their season on the line, the Royal Challengers beat defending champions Mumbai Indians to keep alive their slim hopes of a playoff berth. For a change, the bowlers had a good outing as Royal Challengers managed to defend the total of 167 by 14 runs.

Put in to bat first, the Royal Challengers were off to a decent start on a sluggish wicket. Manan Vohra and Quinton de Kock added 38 runs before the latter was sent back. Vohra was looking in his elements but could not capitalise on the start. The former Kings XI Punjab departed after scoring 45. Brendon McCullum and Virat Kohli then laid the platform for a good total by adding 60 runs for the third wicket.

At 121 for 2 in the fifteenth over, the Royal Challengers were on their way to post a total in excess of 175. But Hardik Pandya derailed their innings by taking three wickets. From 121 for 2, the hosts were reduced to 146 for 7 in 19.3 overs. They could score only 25 runs in 5.1 overs before the game turned in their favour.  Mumbai Indians’ good work in the death overs was undone by Mitchell McClenaghan. He was smashed for 21 runs off his last three balls by Colin de Grandhomme.

In reply, Mumbai were off to a disastrous start. They found themselves three down with just 21 runs on the board. They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were five down at 84. Hardik Pandya kept them in the chase till the last over with a fighting fifty. However, the Royal Challengers clung on to restrict Mumbai to 153 for 7 and win the game by 14 runs.

It was a much-needed win for the franchise as well as their fans and Dane van Niekerk’s tweet pretty much summed up every RCB fan’s relief. The South Africa women team’s captain took to Twitter to write a simple thank you after the Kohli-led side got back to winning ways.

“Thank you RCB ??????”

https://twitter.com/danevn81/status/991379894461485057