The inaugural match of VIVO IPL 2021 wasn’t disappointing after all. Both Mumbai and Bengaluru fought neck and neck till the last ball, with RCB winning the match ultimately. de Villiers (48) and Harshal Patel (5/27) have played key roles in handing win to the RCB, where it bet Mumbai Indians with two wickets in hand and no balls left.
How RCB Did It?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and chose to field, and even got a nice start from the bowlers Siraj and Kyle Jamieson. But soon Mumbai’s skipper Rohit Sharma fast-paced the innings and walked out before the power play. Yet, Chris Lynn’s shining innings after a season gap combined with quick-fire shots from Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan helped Mumbai put a respectable score on the board.
RCB’s Harshal Patel is the shining star of the first innings with the first-ever fifer against Mumbai Indians. He ended up with 4-0-27-5 figures, where he took three of his wickets in the last over he bowled. With a target of 160 onboard, RCB made a good start too. Kohli took a typical decision launching Washington Sundar at 1, and himself at the other end at 2.
While both gave a fair start, Bumrah and Marco Jansen (uncapped player from South Africa) has dragged the match to Mumbai’s side by picking Kohli and Maxwell’s wickets. Yet, de Villiers stood till the last partnering with all and helping RCB win the first match of VIVO IPL 2021. Highlights in the second innings include Maxwell hitting a 100m six, and de Villiers playing unorthodox shots as usual.