@B0$
Two high-profile teams played out a game of many twists, ending in a last-ball thriller in Raipur's first IPL game this season, which pushed one to the top of the table and dashed the qualification hopes of another. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's four-wicket haul limited Mumbai Indians to 166/7, and then Krunal Pandya's 46-ball 73 set the platform for RCB's chase. Despite two stellar performances, and a series of errors from Mumbai Indians, it took the No 9 and No 10 batters to take them over the line off the last ball of the game.
@B1$
@B2$ Mumbai Indians 166/7 in 20 overs [Tilak Varma 57 (47), Naman Dhir 47 (32); Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-23, Romario Shepherd 1-18] lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 167/8 in 20 overs [Krunal Pandya 73 (46), Jacob Bethell 27 (27); Corbin Bosch 4-26, Jasprit Bumrah 0-20] by 2 wickets
@B3$
While Bhuvneshwar Kumar set-up the victory with his spell in the Powerplay, the four-wicket return and a last-over six, it was Krunal Pandya who crafted a 46-ball 73 on a challenging surface to ensure the game never slipped out of RCB's grasp.
@B4$
RCB's decision to bowl seemed vindicated right from the outset as Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced yet another lethal spell with the new ball. His tight lines and assistance from the cracks on the surface ensured three of MI's batters were back in the dugout within three overs of the innings. Ryan Rickelton's attempted lofted drive took the top edge. Rohit Sharma, who had taken apart Josh Hazlewood for 18 runs, was tricked by a knuckle-ball and edged one to the 'keeper. Suryakumar Yadav's poor run continued, as he got an edge to an away-seaming delivery and was caught for a first-ball duck.
@B5$
Yes. In the last over of the Powerplay, Tilak Varma - batting on 9 - was undone by a slower ball from Rasikh Salam and top-edged a pull to Suyash Sharma at mid wicket, but the fielder dropped a sitter.
A few balls earlier in the same over, Romario Shepherd overran while attempting to stop a shot, but ended up leaking four easy runs to Tilak. Tilak went on to crack a 42-ball 57 to take MI to a respectable total on a tricky surface.
@B6$
Nope. The in-form Naman Dhir provided adequate support from the other end. Having scored only 53 runs in the Powerplay, MI were in need of an acceleration. But with some balls shooting up, and some staying low, going for the big hits wasn't the easiest option. Both Dhir and Tilak played sensibly, chose their attacking shots cleverly and ensured they picked 49 runs from the next six overs.
As their stay in the middle lasted longer, Dhir became more clever in picking up his scoring areas, and cracked two consecutive boundaries off Rasikh to shift the gear higher. But, in an attempt to drive a third successive boundary, he failed to pick-up a cross-seam delivery which stayed low and knocked over his stumps.
@B7$
Not really. While Will Jacks and Raj Bawa cracked a boundary each, much of the burden of scoring was on Tilak as he went past his half-century. Once Bhuvneshwar returned to the attack for his final over and knocked over Tilak, there was a freeze on MI's boundaries. Hazlewood and Rasikh closed out the innings with two quiet overs, with Bawa, Deepak Chahar and Corbin Bosch unable to make any significant contributions.
@B8$
With similar troubles. Even as they found three boundaries in the opening over, Virat Kohli's dismissal - off a delivery that held up a bit - offered signs that run-scoring won't be easy. Devdutt Padikkal was prised out by an unplayable Deepak Chahar delivery and by the time the Powerplay ended, even Rajat Patidar was sent back - with a delivery that bounced more than anticipated and caught a top-edge to his tentative shot.
@B9$
Not really. But a 55-run stand off 42 balls between Krunal Pandya and Jacob Bethell provided just the spine to the innings that Tilak and Dhir had done for MI. On a challenging surface, they measured their attack very cleverly, most significantly, taking the attack to AM Ghazanfar, who was hit for 21 runs in two overs.
@B10$
Corbin Bosch delivered the first maiden of the season in the middle overs to turn the tide of the contest in MI's favour for a brief while. After having Jacob Bethell caught at deep square leg, he kept bowling at pace on the line of the stumps. Several balls kept low and made it difficult for Jitesh Sharma to find scoring opportunities. He chose to see through the over, and hoped to make it count later.
@B11$
Kind of. On a surface where pacers were proving more effective, MI made a tricky call of bringing in Raghu Sharma instead of an additional pacer like Shardul Thakur, who was also available as an option. While the spinner went unused, the responsibility was handed over to Bawa to create an impact with his medium pace. And that ploy backfired. He was taken apart for 16 runs, leaving RCB needing only 57 runs off the last six overs - with three of those overs needed to be bowled by the spinners or Bawa.
MI, under pressure for wickets, used up an over of Bumrah, and Bosch was smashed for two sixes off the first four deliveries, leaving RCB needing 36 off 26, with six wickets in hand.
@B12$
With another moment of Bosch's magic - twice in two balls, he struck, sending back Jitesh and Tim David off successive deliveries.
@B13$
With 30 needed off 16 balls, and MI forced to bring another over of spin, Krunal had the license to attempt the big swings. He slogged a delivery from Ghazanfar, but mistimed it. Dhir and Tilak converged for the catch, with the former pulling it back for a relay catch. Tilak, however, wasn't ready to grab it. An argument ensued between the two even before the ball was thrown back to the 'keeper. However, with Krunal struggling with cramps, the two never attempted a run, while there was a heated argument between the RCB think-tank, Virat Kohli and the umpires beyond the ropes over whether Dhir had touched the ropes or not before releasing the ball.
@B14$
Absolutely. He struck two more sixes off the next three deliveries despite battling that hamstring pain. A third could have gone over the ropes off the last ball of the over, but Tilak made up for his error earlier, with a fine solo catch at the boundary.
@B15$
Jasprit Bumrah bowled a splendid 19th over but the decision to hand the ball to Bawa to bowl the final over to defend 15 runs proved costly. Asked to keep the ball on the wide yorker line from round the wicket, he erred in his lines repeatedly, and even overstepped once. However, when he had Romario Shepherd dismissed off the third legitimate ball of the over, the game seemed in MI's control, with RCB needing 9 off 3 balls, with the No. 9 and 10 batters in the middle. However, Bhuvneshwar played one more magic hand, carving the ball over deep extra cover for a six. Needing two off the final ball, Rasikh hit one back to the bowler, but he deflected it towards mid on and the batters scampered for the second run.
@B16$
Having suffered their eighth loss in 11 games, Mumbai Indians' hopes of qualifying for the playoffs have been dashed. Meanwhile, RCB have moved to the top spot on the table with their seventh win in 11 games.
@B17$
While RCB will stay put in Raipur to face Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday (May 13), Mumbai Indians will fly to Dharamsala to face Punjab Kings on Thursday (May 14).
