Follow UsRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) successfully defended an under-par total of 126 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow to win the game by 18 runs. With that, they moved to fifth in the table and are level with four other teams at 10 points. RCB got off to a good start with Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis putting up 62 for the first wicket.
Du Plessis believes getting that the partnership was crucial and proved to be match-winning, although he would have liked a score of about 135.
"To have a fifty partnership in the first six overs was a match-winning partnership in the end. Batting first was important. They had four spinners but it looked like right through, playing spin was hard work," du Plessis said at the post-match presentation.
"It is a little bit easier for a captain, at the Chinnaswamy, it feels like the ball is going everywhere. I would have liked 135. In my mind, that was a really good score and we were going towards that score. Once again, if you come in on this pitch, it is really tough to score."
Leg-spinner Karn Sharma bowled a match-winning spell of 2 for 20, while Josh Hazlewood in his first game this season finished with 2 for 15. Du Plessis was glad to have both of them in the XI.
"I am super happy for Karn. One of those guys who does the hard work all the time but does not get the recognition. Playing at Chinnaswamy is tough for a leg-spinner," the RCB skipper said.
"Unbelievable from him tonight. We have missed Hazlewood's experience. Someone like him brings so much calmness and composure. Nice way to ease him into the competition."
LSG Stand-in skipper Krunal Pandya said that he was happy to keep RCB to 126, but disappointed that his bowlers could not execute their plans.
"We did pretty well in the first half restricting them. It was a great team effort. Really happy with how we have bowled this tournament. 126, at the start of the game, we would have taken. But we just could not execute our plans," Krunal said.
Speaking of KL Rahul, he came into bat at 11 as he had injured his hip flexor, Pandya confirmed. "It is a sad thing. He pulled his hip flexor, I guess. I do not know how bad it is. The medical team will assess it," Pandya said.
RCB have done well to bounce back in this game after their loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home.They have now won three of their four matches as a result. They next play Delhi Capitals (DC) at Kotla on Saturday (May 6).
LSG, on the other hand, take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) next on Wednesday (May 3) in Lucknow.