Indian Premier League

By Parushi Gupta

MUMBAI INDIANS VS ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

 7:26 PM IST: What about the Wankhede pitch? "There is a bit of grass, a good covering across the surface," said Mpumelelo Mbangwa in the pitch report for the official broadcasters.

7:33 PM IST: Rohit Sharma wins the toss and opts to bowl first.

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan (wk), Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Jason Behrendorff, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel (wk), Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Marcus Stoinis, Moeen Ali, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj

7:38 PM IST: RCB are unchanged. For MI, injured Alzarri Joseph is replaced by Lasith Malinga.

7:42 PM IST: Before the first ball, here's one interesting fact - Virat Kohli hit his first four and six of IPL at the Wankhede in 2008. And here's another - he once sewed a 215-run second-wicket stand with AB DE Villiers.

Both the players are going to be seen during action in a whereas.

7:50 PM IST: In their last meeting, RCB needed seven to win and six to take it to Super Over in Bengaluru.

Then, Lasith Malinga's unnoticed no-ball sparked a controversy.

7:56 PM IST: Head-to-head stats - Overall: In 24 matches, Mumbai Indians have won 15, while Royal Challengers Bangalore were victorious in 9. At the Wankhede, MI have won five times in six meetings. Some domination.

8:00 PM IST: Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli and to open the batting for RCB. Jason Behrendorff gets the new ball.

8:05 PM IST: within edge and a dot to begin.

Tentative movement from Parthiv Patel. A single. Then Rohit Sharma, India's vice-captain takes some time to set the field for Virat Kohli, India captain. Kohli responds by striking a four, a very well timed flick shot. Seven runs from the first over.

8:11 PM IST: Then, we have the highest wicket-taker in IPL Lasith Malinga bowling to highest run-getter Virat Kohli. Two singles and a dot to Kohli. Parthiv Patel middles his cover drive of the fifth ball, only to see Suryakumar Yadav stopping a certain boundary. Five runs from the over. RCB-12/0 after two overs.

8:13 PM IST: Jason Behrendorff strikes with the first ball of his second ball. Virat Kohli walks. Inside edge and easy take for wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. FoW-12/1 (3.1 Over). Kohli made eight off nine. AB de Villiers is the new man for RCB. Virat Kohli walks back after Jason Behrendorff had him caught behind. 

8:18 PM IST: Heart within the mouth moment for Parthiv Patel. He plays a lofted flick shot and the ball just clears the mid-on fielder for a four. That happened off the fourth delivery. AB de Villiers takes a double to finish the over. Eight runs from it. RCB-20/1 after three overs.

8:22 PM IST: Jasprit Bumrah into the attack. Probing over from India's premier pacer. Two dot balls to Parthiv Patel, then a leg bye. A couple more dots to AB de Villiers, then almost a play on. One run from the over. RCB-21/1 after four overs.

8:27 PM IST: Parthiv Patel takes on Jason Behrendorff. Plays the primary ball of the over, over mid-wicket for a four.

The Aussie responds with a body blow, hit on the left-handed batsman's shoulder. And Patel hits consecutive ball for a six over deep mid-wicket. He follows it up a really good shot, guiding the short ball to third man boundary. Another boundary to the same area, thanks to a lucky thick edge. 19 runs from the over. RCB-40/1 after five overs.

8:32 PM IST: 3 dot balls to AB DE Villiers, the South African hits the fourth ball for a four. That's the only bad delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. Five runs from the over. RCB-45/1 after six overs.

8:37 PM IST: Hardik Pandya on with his first over. And the first wicket too. He had Parthiv Patel caught at point by Suryakumar Yadav. FoW-49/2 (6.6 Over). Four singles and a wicket from the over.

8:41 PM IST: Rahul Chahar on with his first over. Two dot balls, then AB de Villiers hits the third fo a four to backward point. Six runs from the over. RCB-55/2 after eight overs.

8:46 PM IST: Hardik Pandya on with his second over. Seven runs from it, including a four off the third ball, hit by AB de Villiers. RCB-62/2 after nine overs. Time out.

8:52 PM IST: Rahul Chahar continues together with his second over. First ball hit for a six by Moeen Ali.

Two more singles and eight runs from it. RCB-70/2 after 10 overs.

8:56 PM IST: eleven runs from Hardik Pandya's third over, together with a six off the third ball by AB DE Villiers.

RCB-81/2 after 11 overs.

8:59 PM IST: A quick over from Rahul Chahar. Five singles. AB de Villiers (31 off 29) and Moeen Ali (14 off 14) have added 37 runs in 30 overs. RCB-86/2 after 12 overs.

9:03 PM IST: Two legends face off and AB de Villiers hit Lasith Malinga for a six, off the third ball, into the mid-wicket stand. 11 runs from the over. RCB-97/2 after 13 overs.

9:07 PM IST: Rahul Chahar leaks 12 runs from his last over. His figures: 4-0-31-0. AB Delaware Villiers hits he second ball for a four. A classic reverse sweep. A single then, Moeen Ali lofts one over deep extra cover for a six. RCB109/2 after 14 overs.

9:11 PM IST: Krunal Pandya gets his first over of the night. Four singles, then a dot to Moeen Ali. But the Englishman swings freely and hit the next ball for a six over long on. 10 runs from the over. RCB-119/2 after 15 overs.

9:16 PM IST: Jason Behrendorff returns for his last over. A single to AB Delaware Villiers then a dot ball.

Moeen Ali hits subsequent ball for a four to deep additional cowl, and a six off subsequent blow out of the water deep midwicket. A dot, then Ali finishes it off with another six, this time over long off. 17 runs from the over. RCB-136/2 after 16 overs. Time out. Behrendorff 's figures: 1/49.

9:23 PM IST: 3 runs off the primary ball once the break and fifty for AB Delaware Villiers in forty one balls, courtesy a misfield from Kieron Pollard. A double and Moeen Ali reaches 48 in 28 balls. A single. Low full toss from Jasprit Bumrah, and a single. A single off the last ball and second IPL fifty for Ali. He takes 31 balls. RCB-144/2 after 17 overs.

9:30 PM IST: sensible slower delivery from Lasith Malinga to begin the over, and he had Moeen Ali caught at deep square leg by Hardik Pandya. FoW-144/3 (17.1 Over). Ali made 50off 32. Marcus Stoinis is the new man but AB de Villiers on strike, next ball. ABD, already in position, hits it for a six with a paddle sweep. A beauty and a wicket. Deceptively slow and Stoinis has no clue. Caught by Rohit Sharma at cover. FoW-151/4 (17.5 Over). A couple of wickets and eight runs from the over. RCB-152/4 after 18 overs.

AB deVilliers on strike

9:36 PM IST: Jasprit Jasprit Bumrah up against the best and enticing battle. Akshdeep Nath takes a single off the first ball, then AB de Villiers hits the next balls for two fours. Bumrah responds with a dot, then ABD gets hit on the helmet. Precautionary inspection from the physio. A single and ten runs from the over. Bumrah's figures: 4-1-22-0. RCB-162/4 after 19 overs. ABD unbeaten on 68 from 49.

9:41 PM IST: Lasith Malinga misses the target and AB de Villiers launches it into the orbit. A six over deep square leg. Then, ABD runs out courtesy a poor response from Akshdeep Nath.  ABD needs a second run however the tike denies. In the midst, Kieron Pollard hits he stumps at the bowler's end. ABD made 75 from 51. Next ball, Nath sends a jock, and Quinton de Kock takes a very good catch. He made two off three. 169/6 (19.3 Overs).

9:44 PM IST: A similar dismissal for Pawan Negi, a skier and caught by Quinton de Kock. FoW-169/7 (19.5 Over). Wild swing and miss from Umesh Yadav, but RCB steal two byes. Nine runs and three wickets from the last over. Lasith Malinga's figures: 4-0-31-4. RCB-171/7.

10:03 PM IST: Umesh Yadav starts with a wide, then three dot balls to Quinton de Kock. But the South African hits back-to-back fours off the next two balls. Nine runs from the over. Mumbai need another 163 runs.

10:08 PM IST: Navdeep Saini shares the new ball with Umesh Yadav. 11 runs from the over, including a first ball six for Rohit Sharma, over fine leg boundary. MI-20/0 after two overs. They need another 152 runs.

10:14 PM IST: Umesh Yadav continues to leak runs. 16 runs from his second over, including two fours and a massive six, all hit by Quinton de Kock. MI-36/0 after three overs. They need another 136 runs.

10:19 PM IST: Bolwing amendment for RCB, but not stopping MI openers. Mohammed Siraj on with the fourth over and he gets hit for s six off the second ball, over deep point, by Rohit Sharma. The urban center captain ends the over with a four. 11 runs from the over. MI-48/0, needing another 124 runs.

10:24 PM IST: Six runs from Yuzvendra Chahal's first over. A double off the first ball and a four off the fourth ball as Quinton de Kock shows his class. MI-54/0 after five overs. They need another 118 runs.

10:28 PM IST: Navdeep Saini returns for his second over and leaks 13 runs. Rohit Sharma hits the second ball for a four. A sublime cover drive. A single, and Quinton de Kock hits the fourth ball for a six over mid-wicket. RCB-67/0 after six over. Time out.

10:35 PM IST: What an over from part-timer Pawan Negi. Just three singles. MI-70/0 after seven overs. They need another 102 runs from 78 balls.

10:40 PM IST: Pure magic from Moeen Ali to end Rohit Sharma's innings. Sharp turn and hits the middle stump. FoW- 70/1 (7.1 Over). Rohit made 28 off 19 balls. Suryakumar Yadav is the new man. And suddenly, RCB are back in the game. Moeen traps Quinton de Kock. Caught on the crease and on the middle. FoW-MUMBAI 71/2 (7.4 Over). de Kock made 40 off 26. Ishan Kishan joins Suryakumar Yadav. Three singles and two wickets. MI-73/2 after eight overs.

10:45 PM IST: A brilliantly calculated counter-attack from Mumbai Indians. Ishan Kishan hits Pawan Negi for back-to-back sixes off the third and fourth deliveries. 14 runs from the over. MI-87/2 after nine overs. They need 85 runs from 66 balls.

10:49 PM IST: Another good over for Mumbai. 10 runs from Moeen Ali's second over. Suryakumar Yadav hits the third ball over extra cover. MI-97/2 after 10 overs.

10:53 PM IST: Smart work from Yuzvendra Chahal. A widish delivery to entice Ishan Kishan and Parthiv Patel does the rest in a flash. FoW-104/3 (10.3 Over). Kishan made 21 off nine. Krunal Pandya is the new man. 11 runs from the over. Mumbai need 64 runs from 54 balls.

10:57 PM IST: Moeen Ali produces a very good over, leaking two runs. MI-110/3 after 12 overs.

11:01 PM IST: Six runs from the over. And Mumbai need another 56 runs from 42 balls. Yuzvendra Chahalon with his third over. He concedes six runs, including a four, hit by sweeping Suryakumar Yadav.

11:06 PM IST: Moeen Ali completes his spell for figures of 2/18. Three runs from the last over. MI-119/3 after 14 overs. They need another 53 runs from 36 balls.

11:10 PM IST: Pawan Negi on with his third over. Suryakumar Yadav hits the second ball for a four, to short third man. Eight runs from the over. MI-127/3 after 15 overs. They need another 45 runs from 30 balls. Yadav is unbeaten on 27 off 20.

11:15 PM IST: Yuzvendra Chahal, bowling his last over, gives RCB the much-needed break. He had Suryakumar Kumar caught at long on boundary by Navdeep Saini. FoW-129/4 (15.3 Over) Yadav made 29 off 23. Mumbai need another 43 runs from 27 balls. Time out.

11:19 PM IST: Hardik Pandya joins elder brother Krunal in the centre. Four runs and a wicket from Yuzvendra Chahal's last over, for figures of 2/27. MI-131/4 after 16 overs. They need another 41 runs from 24 balls.

11:27 PM IST: Navdeep Saini, the pacer, returns for his third over and Hardik Pandya hits the loosner for a four. Good response from Saini. With RCB running out of spinners, need good overs from pacers. But a drop cath which fits for a four spoilt the over. Hardik Pandya valiantly lofts the last ball and Tim Southee makes a mess of the chance. 10 runs from the over. MI-141/4 after 17 overs. 31 needed from 18 balls.

11:33 PM IST: There's a wicket. Krunal Pandya (11 off 21) caught at deep midwicket by sub fielder Milind Kumar, and Virat Kohli becomes a believer. FoW-148/5 (17.5 Over). But that brings Kieron Pollard. Nine runs and a wicket from the over. MI-150/5 after 18 overs. Mumbai need another 22 runs from 12 balls.

11:39 PM IST: Virat Kohli was going for a pacer, but a vocal Ashish Nehra on the sidelines, insisted to have Pawan Negi, the left arm spinner, into the attack. And it did not create a distinction as Hardik Pandya turned on his power mode button. A six off the second ball, followed by a for, then another four. Then a six. Two needed now, thanks Nehraji. A wide, and scores tied. A full toss and Hardik played to Virat Kohli at long off. A single. And Mumbai won by five wickets. RCB back to the earth.