Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were certainly hurt when they dropped Jos Buttler twice. But Dinesh Karthik (44 not out off 23 balls) and Shahbaz Ahmed (45 off 26 balls) ensured their team didn’t have to pay too much of a price for letting Buttler off, Akash Deep being the unlucky bowler on both occasions.
The duo’s game-turning 67-run stand for the sixth wicket snatched victory for RCB as they prevailed over Rajasthan Royals by four wickets with five balls to spare on a two-paced Wankhede track in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Thanks to Buttler (70 not out) and Shimron Hetmyer (42 not out), the Royals, put in to bat, hammered 42 off the last two overs of their innings to reach 169 for 3. Thereafter, in spite of a mid-innings collapse triggered by their former player Yuzvendra Chahal (2/15) that had them wobbling at 87 for 5 in the 13th over, RCB could have the last laugh, thanks to the tremendous turnaround brought about by Karthik and Shahbaz.
Their 67-run partnership in just 5.2 overs left the Royals simply clueless, especially as they were well in control after Chahal, making fine use of the flight and dip, accounted for the prized scalp of RCB captain Faf du Plessis and also had a hand in his former skipper Virat Kohli’s run-out dismissal. From 55 without loss in the seventh over, RCB had slipped to 62 for 4 in the ninth and were staring down the barrel.
Finisher at play
Precisely, it was Karthik whose intent and innovation put the pressure back on the Royals alongside helping Shahbaz grow in confidence.
He targeted Ravichandran Ashwin in the 14th over of RCB’s run chase, with his improvisation in full swing as he slammed the senior off-spinner for three fours and a maximum. RCB’s chase picked up pace since that over which fetched them 21 as with Karthik improvising at will on one end, Shahbaz too began chancing his arms to perfection.
Though Shahbaz couldn’t stay till the end, Karthik’s presence meant there was no way RCB would lose the game. In three innings so far in this IPL, Karthik has contributed in the slog overs and remains unbeaten, having taken his aggregate to 90, which reflects his finishing prowess.
