(Cricket news) Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 18 runs to reach 2nd position on the points table. After winning the toss KL Rahul elected to bowl first, making it the 31st time in as many games that the toss winning captain elected to bowl first. Both the teams were unchanged from their respective last games.

RCB had a very rocky start as they were 7/2 after 1 over as Virat Kohli was dismissed for a golden duck. Captain Faf du Plessis anchored the innings with his 64 ball 96. The former Proteas skipper paced his innings beautifully as he started slow and then exploded towards the end. He hit 11 fours and 2 sixes to take RCB to the total of 181/6. Glenn Maxwell provided decent support with 23 off 11 balls including 3 boundaries and a maximum. Shabaz Ahmed has developed a great habit of bailing RCB out of pressure situations and he did it once again by scoring 26 off 22 balls. Dushmanta Chameera got the ball rolling with 2 wickets in the first over. Jason Holder picked up 2 wickets while Krunal Pandya also got a scalp.

Chasing 182, LSG fell 18 runs short as RCB kept picking wickets at regular intervals. KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis played decent cameos but no one could play the big innings. Krunal Pandya was promoted to number 4 and did decently well as he scored 42 off 28 balls. The all-rounder hit 5 fours and 2 sixes as he sent a message that his ability with the willow can be utilised more. Josh Hazelwood was the pick of the bowlers with his 4/25 in 4 overs. Mohammed Siraj and Glenn Maxwell picked up a wicket each. Harshal Patel on the other hand despite leaking 47 runs got 2 wickets. RCB never let LSG build a partnership which is why it was pretty comfortable for them in the end.

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