Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) produced a brilliant bowling performance and showed great intensity on the field to beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 18 runs in a low-scoring thriller. Chasing 127, LSG batters failed to read the pitch conditions well and kept losing wickets regularly. RCB bowler’s combined effort helped them to bundle out LSG for 108. Earlier, LSG captain KL Rahul picked up a hamstring injury when he chased down the ball to save a boundary, which remained a big setback for the home side. 

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis gave their side a decent start by scoring 62 runs in 9 overs. Ravi Bishnoi drew the first blood by dismissing Kohli (31). From thereon, RCB kept losing wickets regularly as the pitch was not easy to bat on. RCB skipper Du Plessis (44) kept fighting a lone battle at one end.

In the 17^th over his resilience came to an end. Dinesh Karthik who chipped in with 16 runs went back after Yash Thakur produced a fantastic run out. RCB’s batting order completely collapsed on a sluggish pitch, losing 5/12 toward the end, and managed to post 126/9 in 20 overs.

The hosts’ chase dealt with an early huge blow as Mohammed Siraj dismissed dangerous Kyle Mayers for a duck in the second delivery of the innings. Glenn Maxwell then removed Krunal Pandya who hit three consecutive boundaries. Moments later, Karthik produced a magnificent effort behind the stumps to dismiss Deepak Hooda (1). RCB put further pressure on LSG as Karn Sharma picked up the crucial wickets of Nicholas Pooran (9) and Marcus Stoinis (13) in his successive overs. RCB bowlers read the pitch conditions well and bowled accordingly to seal the win.