Bengaluru, April 22: The Royal Challengers Bangalore continued their stunning start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) season as centurion Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli guided RCB to a thumping 10-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium.
After completing their Chennai stage with three back-to-back wins, the Virat Kohli-led side began their Mumbai leg with a smashing win. The Royals were at the end of an onslaught, as Padikkal notched up his maiden IPL century with captain Kohli on the other end.
After winning the toss, Kohli opted to bowl first. Mohammed Siraj led from the front as the Royals top order crumbled as Rajasthan lost their first three with the power play and then lost their skipper as well. At one stage Rajasthan were reduced to 43-4. But the Royals middle-order fought back as they reached a total of 177/9.
Shivam Dube (46 off 32), Riyan Parag (25 off 16) and Rahul Tewatia (40 off 23) helped the Rajasthan team fight back to put up something on the board for their bowlers. Reaching 177/9 after being four down for 42 was commendable, but little did they see the onslaught headed their way!
The Bangalore team chased down the total with 21-balls to spare, with Padikkal scoring an unbeaten 101 off 52, while Kohli also played a superb knock off 72 off 47. With Thursday’s win, RCB remain unbeaten as they have won four on the trot.
Padikkal, who registered his maiden IPL ton, smashed 6 sixes and 11 boundaries in his unbeaten knock. Meanwhile captain Kohli’s innings was studded with six boundaries and three maximums.
With Thursday's win, RCB now climb to the top of the table with 8 points from four matches. Meanwhile Rajasthan fell to the bottom of the table with two points from four matches.
Here's how the RCB vs RR IPL match panned out:
End of the match: It was a sensational game of cricket, well, at least for RCB! After the bowlers restricted RR to 177, Padikkal and captain Kohli chased down the total with 21-balls to spare. Padikkal's maiden ton came off 101 off 52. Meanwhile captain Kohli scored an unbeaten knock of 72 off 47. With Thursday's win, RCB climb to the top of the table, while RR are at the opposite end, at the bottom of the table!
And its over!! A superb win for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as they pick up a 10-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals! A glorious innings for Padikkal who notched up his maiden IPL ton
FOUR!!! A superb innings as Padikkal brings up his maiden IPL hundred with a boundary
8 needed off the last four overs. Padikkal just three away from a ton
FOUR!! Padikkal inches closer to a century! Five to go
FOUR!! Kohli cuts this past deep point. Expensive over from Gopal as he leaks 17 runs. RCB need 19 off 36 to win
FOUR!! Padikkal on 89 now. Will the young opener get to his century tonight? 25 needed off 39
SIX!! After playing a patient knock so far, captain Kohli is picking the pace up! Kohli pulls this over deep midwicket to get the over underway with a maximum
FIFTY UP FOR CAPTAIN KOHLI! 40th IPL half-century for Kohli. The skipper has played second fiddle to Paddikal tonight. But another solid knock for Kohli
FOUR!! Captain Kohli times this past deep backward square leg for a boundary
Another good over for RCB as 10 runs come off it. RCB need 61 off 54
Overthrows and the RCB openers pick up two quick runs
FOUR! Beautiful pull shot from the captain as he times this past deep midwicket
10 overs done. RCB sailing through this chase. Kohli's men need 71 off 60 to win their fourth match on the trot
100 comes up for RCB with all wickets in hand. The required rate has come down to 7.10
SIX!! Another comfortable shot from Padikkal as this sails over deep square leg
BACK-TO-BACK MAXIMUMS! Paddikal in sensational form as he hits Tewatia for two sixes in the row. While the first one sailed over long on, the second one was hammered over deep mid-wicket. 15 runs off Tewatia's over
SIX!! Padikkal sends this over long-on as Riyan Parag leaks 14 runs
FOUR!! Padikkal brings up his 6th IPL half-century off 27 deliveries! Superb innings from the RCB opener
Riyan Parag into the attack
FOUR!! Padikkal sweeps this past deep backward point
SIX!! After keeping the batsman in check with no boundaries off the over, Padikkal lifted the final delivery over long-on for a maximum. 10 runs off the over. End of powerplay: RCB post 59 for no loss
SIX!! A maximum to end the over.
FOUR!! Padikkal puts this past short fine.
FOUR!!! A boundary to end the over. 15 runs come up from Morris' over
Back-to-back fours to begin Morris' over!!
FOUR!! Second boundary off the over as Padikkal hits this past short fine. 10 runs come off Shreyas' Gopal's over
FOUR! Padikkal puts this past fine leg
Six runs off the over. 14 for no loss after two overs. RCB off to steady start. Whie the required run rate at this stage is 9.14 the current run rate is 6.92
FOUR!! Padikkal finds his first boundary as he places this past deep midwicket