Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) snapped their three-match losing streak in IPL 2022 as they defeated Chennai Super Kings by 13 runs at MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday night.
Chasing a modest 174-run target, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway put up a 54-run opening stand. Conway stuck to one end while Gaikwad threw his wicket away in a search of a big wicket. Then in the middle overs, Faf du Plessis unleashed his spinners and took wickets at regular intervals. Maxwell removed Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu.
Conway went on to score his second consecutive fifty but failed to take his team over the line as he got out at a score of 56. Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood took important wickets in the slog overs, thus denting CSK's faint chance of playoffs qualification.
Earlier, Bangalore were off to a superb start as du Plessis and Virat Kohli stitched a 62-run opening stand. Then Moeen Ali wreaked havoc and got the wicket of du Plessis. A great mix-up between Kohli and Glenn Maxwell resulted in the latter's runout. Moeen then cleaned up Kohli, reducing RCB to 79-3. Mahipal Lomror and Rajat Patidar stitched a 44-run stand and provided the platform for late flourish. Lomror and Dinesh Karthik's big hits in the slog overs propelled RCB to 173-8 despite Theekshana's three wickets in the penultimate over.