Kagiso Rabada ripped through Royal Challengers Bangalore to help set up a four-wicket victory for Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru, writes ANITHA MADIKIZELA.
The Royal Challengers posted an under-par 149-8 after being inserted to bat first, thanks to a blistering bowling spell by Kagiso Rabada. A composed half-century from Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer helped secure the victory for the visitors with seven balls to spare.
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A strange atmosphere ran around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as RCB limped to the unimpressive total following uncharacteristic innings from their batsmen. Home captain Virat Kohli scratched together 41 (33 balls, 1×4, 2×6) while AB de Villiers could only manage just over a run-a-ball 17 runs as the home crowd scratched their heads in disbelief.
Proteas’ fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with a brilliant 4-21 in his four overs, including the wickets of Bangalore’s star batting pair. His pace, bounce and deadly accuracy powered him to the top of the wicket-taking charts, with the South African having picked up 11 wickets so far this season.
Kagiso Rabada is the new Purple cap holder. #IPL2019
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— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) April 7, 2019
Moeen Ali played a quick-fire 32 that included one four and three sixes at the tail-end of the innings, but Chris Morris silenced the crowd with a well-executed 2-28.
The Capitals lost Shikhar Dhawan for a golden duck early in the powerplay, but opener Prithvi Shaw (28) and Iyer in at No 3 consolidated well. The Delhi captain went on to score 67 off 50 deliveries (8×4, 2×6) before losing his wicket to Navdeep Saini (2-24) with five more runs required for victory.
A minor collapse followed with two more wickets falling for the visitors before they could secure the four-wicket victory in the penultimate over.
READ ALSO: Rabada looks forward to IPL
The IPL continues on Monday when the Sunrisers Hyderabad travel to Mohali to take on the Kings XI Punjab at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium.
Photo: Faheem Hussain/SPORTZPICS/BCCI
