IPL 2023: RCB had an intimidating target of 227 and appeared to be on track until Glenn Maxwell (76 off 36 balls) and captain Faf du Plessis (62 off 33) left quickly.
Chennai Super Lords started thinking responsibly at the last possible second to hopefully figure out an eight-run prevail upon Regal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Head Association match that created 444 sudden spikes in demand for Monday.
CSK posted an impressive 226 for six after being asked to bat first, with Devon Conway scoring 83 off 45 deliveries and Shivam Dube scoring 52 off 27 balls. In response, RCB finished at 218 for 8.
RCB persevered through a terrible beginning as they lost Virat Kohli who played on to an Akash Singh conveyance. If Maheesh Theekshana had not dropped a skier from Mahipal Lomror at mid-off, Akash might have had more success.
But Lomror was caught by Ruturaj Gaikwad at the cover point, and he left quickly. Even though Du Plessis hit Despande for two fours and a six, Maxwell was serious when he smashed Akash for two sixes in the next over.
Akash received the brunt of Du Plessis’s ire in the subsequent over when he conceded two boundaries and a six.
Du Plessis and Maxwell were at their brutal best and found the fours and sixes at will, sparing no CSK bowler.
Maxwell made his half-century in 24 balls, while du Plessis hit his fifty in just 23 balls. After that, the Australian hit a huge six, propelling RCB to 121 for two in ten overs.
MS Dhoni took care of the rest to end the perilous partnership after Theekshana foxed Maxwell, who hit a skier in search of a big shot.
Theekshana had the last laugh. Du Plessis left in the next over, giving Dhoni another skier off Meen Ali, making matters worse for RCB.
Veteran Dinesh Karthik kept RCB in the hunt despite needing 58 off the final five overs with some cheeky boundaries and was also run out by Ruturaj Gaikwad off Deshpande in the 17th over. However, Tushar Deshpande fired Karthik on Wednesday, ending RCB’s hopes.
Earlier, the CSK batsmen went all out from the start, making it difficult for RCB’s bowling attack.
Conway got CSK off to a good start by whipping Wayne Parnell to the middle of the wicket boundary in the second over and then lifting the South African over the fine leg fence three balls later.
Gaikwad battled as he left in the third finished, tracking down Parnell in the outfield from a Mohammed Siraj conveyance.
Conway went about his business in style, scooping Vijaykumar Vyshak over the goalkeeper for a four. A ball later, Rahane (37 off 20) hit a perfect hook shot to send the ball into the stands. Conway was unperturbed by this.
As he hammered Parnell with two boundaries and a six, Rahane seemed eager to demonstrate his point, scoring 15 runs in the sixth over.
Conway knocked Maxwell out of the park when he joined the attack in the seventh over. As they gathered a boundary or six in almost every area of their partnership, the duo gave off an ominous appearance.
In the tenth over, Conway was at his best as he smacked Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva for a huge six over midwicket before the spinner broke the risky-looking organization by cleaning into Rahane. Conway reached fifty runs for the second straight game with a double in the same over.
After that, the New Zealander smashed Hasaranga for a boundary, putting CSK at 97 for two at the half.
Shivam Dube scored a big six off Maxwell to mark his debut, and Conway continued his assault by slamming rookie Vijaykumar for consecutive fours.
As Conway smashed the bowler over the fine-leg boundary for another run, it turned out to be a nightmare for the young Vijaykumar.