LSG vs RCB: We Are Ticking Along Nicely As A Team - Mike Hesson

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Director of Cricket Mike Hesson said the team is flourishing by overcoming all the odds after every single match and they still need to strive for better performance. On Wednesday, RCB defeated KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 18 runs at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

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Skipper Faf du Plessis’ 64-ball 96, which included 11 boundaries and a couple of sixes, guided RCB to a commendable 181/6, which was enough to outplay LSG as Josh Hazlewood (4/25) and Harshal Patel (2/47)  restricted them to 163/8.

LSG vs RCB: Faf du Plessis came really good today and took the pressure off us: Mike Hesson

Hesson hailed Faf for standing tall and not succumbing to the pressure of early wickets in the innings. The RCB Director of Cricket said the team is working progressively for its success.

“We are ticking along pretty nicely as a team. Anuj and Faf have had three fifty-run partnerships that have been important for us. We have also had to bat in challenging conditions at times when we lost the toss and struggled to get underway,” Hesson said in the post-match press conference.

“Faf came really good today and took the pressure off us when we lost early wickets. We are ticking along nicely but we will continue to try striving for improvement,” he added.

We were very happy to get that dismissal: Mikes Hesson on KL Rahul’s wicket

Hazlewood got the early dismissals of Quinton de Kock and Manish Pandey inside the powerplay overs. Kl Rahul started the chase with a couple of boundaries off Mohammed Siraj and the LSG captain looked determined to play the anchor’s role. He pulled Josh Hazlewood’s short ball for a six-over short fine leg.

Rahul fiercely cutHarshal Patel’s shortish delivery with some incredible wrist works to fetch a boundary. Harshal had the last laugh as he nicked Rahul behind the stumps. RCB had to refer the decision to the TV umpire via DRS and everyone pumped up after the decision came into their corner.

Hesson said that they were very delighted to get Rahul’s wicket and it wasn’t something planned before. The 47-year-old New Zealand coach lauded the strength of his bowling unit and the efforts they put to upturn the games.

“I would like to say that it was a pre-planned move, but it was not. We have had difficulties getting rid of KL Rahul. We were very happy to get that dismissal. Before that, we had made enough pressure from the scoring point of view,” Hesson mentioned. 

“It is the beauty of our side that we have three very good death bowlers in Siraj, Hazelwood, and Harshal. Often they cover the final five overs. Today we felt that Siraj was doing a nice job. He got us a wicket, which is important. He was able to bowl nicely to the new batter.

“Ideally, we do not want two bowlers bowling the final over at the back-end, but today we did it. They did an excellent job,” he added. 

RCB will meet Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their next match on April 23 (Saturday) at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

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