IPL 7 RCB vs RR, Highlights: Steve Smith, James Faulkner Steal Yuvraj Singh's Thunder in Thriller

Rajasthan Royals defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets. Catch all the highlights here. (Scorecard | Summary | Points Table | Schedule)

 

James Faulkner, Man-of-the-Match: I don't like bowling here (in Bangalore). Yuvraj and AB played two amazing innings. I thought AB was going to hit me for six sixes. They were right in the arc. It's nice going at the moment. We needed a fair few runs and Smith batted exceptionally well. It was a good team effort.

 

That's the end of this match. It's Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on Monday.

 

Shane Watson, Rajasthan Royals captain: We have always got belief, given the quality in our batting. We knew we were always ahead of RCB's run rate; we had to pull out something like what RCB did. Faulkner and Smith were amazing. They did an incredible job. It was a big win after RCB batted so brilliantly; especially Yuvi, who batted and bowled brilliantly.

 

Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain: We were not able to hit the yorkers in the last few overs. It was Brilliant batting by Smith and Faulkner. I kept telling the guys the game was not over. Unfortunately, we could not execute the plans well. Brilliant game for Yuvraj but he ended up on the losing side; in T20, you can't do anything about it.

 

Rajasthan Royals win by five wickets. What a sensational win for the Royals, who were staring at defeat, chasing 191. Yuvraj Singh, after setting up 190 for RCB, ran through the middle-order with his four wickets, but a stunning 85-run partnership between Steve Smith and James Faulkner off 5.2 overs turned the tables as the Royals recorded an unbelievable win.

 

23:22 IST: SIX! This surely has to be the game for RR as Faulkner smashes Aaron into the stands. RR just need 12 off 10 balls.

 

23:19 IST: Dinda gives away 23 runs, including two sixes and two fours. RR 170/5 of 18 overs.

 

23:16 IST: This is mayhem. Smith has taken 14 off the first three balls of Dinda's over and RR are 161/5 off 17.3 overs. Are RCB losing the plot here?

 

23:14 IST: Starc leaked out 21 runs in the 17th over and the Royals are now in with a huge chance. This game is not over by any means. RR 147/5 off 17 overs.

 

23:10 IST: FOUR! That was wide outside the off-stump from Mitch Starc and Faulkner sends it to the fence. FOUR! Faulkner swings his bat and the ball races away to the third man fence.

 

23:04 IST: Strategic timeout with RR on 126/5 off 16 overs.

 

23:02 IST: RCB are riding on the Yuvraj wave. What a night he's having here. The Bangalore fans are right behind their team and after being subjected to some harsh criticism, Yuvi is once again their flavour. It's almost party time in Bangalore unless Steve Smith has some other plans - he is looking dangerous with some lusty blows. And for company, Smith has James Faulkner.

 

22:55 IST: WICKET! That's number four for Yuvraj. This is sensational stuff as Yuvraj removes Karun Nair for 56 off 39. RR 106/5 off 13.3 overs.

 

22:45 IST: WICKET! Yuvraj is doing it all on his own - third scalp for him as he removes Samson, who handed him a simple return catch - gleefully accepted by the bowler ; RR slip to 82/4 off 11 overs.

 

22:41 IST: Sanju Samson has come out with all guns blazing and has smashed Yuvraj Singh for SIX and FOUR off successive deliveries.

 

22:37 IST: Yuvraj Singh struck twice in the same over to remove Watson and Stuart Binny. What a night he is having. RR are tottering at 63/3 off 9 overs.

 

22:30 IST: FOUR! Yuzvendra Chahal gets too carried away and drags it wide as Karun Nair smashes it to the fence.

 

22:26 IST: WICKET! Chahal strikes and sends back Rahane as RR reach 54/1 off 7.1 overs. That brings Shane Watson into the middle.

 

22:25 IST: FOUR! Too straight from Yuvraj and Karun slams it to the fence. 50 up for RR in the 7th over. RR 54/0 after 7 overs.

 

22:23 IST: Yuvraj into the attack after the timeout.

 

22:20 IST: End of the powerplay and RR are 45/0, chasing 191. Rahane is unbeaten on 21 and Karun is batting on 22. Strategic timeout.

 

22:18 IST: Both Karun and Rahane are looking very strong; and that's what the Royals needed, chasing a mammoth 191.

 

22:12 IST: Another bowling change as RR reach 31/0 after 4 overs. Varun Aaron into the attack.

 

22:06 IST: Bowling change. Ashok Dinda into the attack.

 

22:04 IST: FOUR! Poor bowling from Morkel as Karun makes contact and gets more runs. Kohli is showing his displeasure. RR 24/0 after 3 overs.

 

22:03 IST: FOUR! Cracking shot from Karun Nair as RR get a move on here. It's still early days but they need to score at almost 10 an over through the innings.

 

22:02 IST: FOUR! Rahane crashes that from Albie Morkel to the fence. RR will need a few more of those.

 

22:01 IST: This has been a watchful start by RR openers Rahane and Karun Nair in chase of 191 to win. RR 10/0 after 2 overs.

 

Royal Challengers Bangalore are 190/5 off 20 overs. Virat Kohli decided to bat and also decided to open the innings with Chris Gayle but it was the same old story when the hosts were reduced to 40/3 in 8.1 overs. However, that brought AB de Villiers (58) and Yuvraj Singh (83) together in the middle; the latter set the pace as Bangalore launched a sensational fightback against Royals. Yuvraj was brutal, hitting sixes at will while de Villiers, after playing second fiddle, joined later and took full toll. His two successive sixes against brought up the 100-run stand between the two. Yuvraj of course never stopped hitting his sixes.

 

21:21 IST: AB de Villiers hits Faulkner for two successive sixes as he brings up the 100-run stand with Yuvraj; also the 150 up for RCB in the 18th over. This has been a sensational fightback.

 

21:08 IST: SIX! Yuvraj cracks that into the stands and brings up his seventh IPL fifty and second this season, off only 24 balls and soon after, AB de Villiers smokes one into the stands for a SIX

 

21:02 IST: SIX! Yuvraj smokes that one from Tambe as RCB raise their 100 in the 15th over.

 

21:01 IST: RCB are 94/3 after 14 overs with Yuvraj fast approaching his seventh IPL fifty. Tambe back for his last over.

 

20:59 IST: FOUR! Yuvraj swings through the arc and cracks that straight past Watson. Superb shot.

 

20:53 IST: Rajat Bhatia into the attack and Yuvraj Singh goes after him, hammers him for a SIX and FOUR. He is in brutal form tonight.

 

20:47 IST: SIX! Yuvraj blastd Tewatia into the stands as RCB look to rebuild after three early losses. RCB 66/3 after 11 overs.

 

20:42 IST: FOUR! Yuvraj has come out with an attacking mindset and he takes on the wily Tambe.

 

20:38 IST: WICKET! Rahul Tewatia strikes and sees off Vijay Zol. RCB are faltering again as Yuvraj Singh joins AB de Villiers with the team on 40/3 off 8/1 overs.

 

20:34 IST: WICKET! Tambe gets the big one - removes Chris Gayle who edged it to the 'keeper and walked off just when the umpire was about to signal a wide. Fair play from the West Indian. RCB 38/2 off 7.4 overs.

 

20:32 IST: FOUR! Tambe continues and Zol smacks it to the fence; good shot that given the angle at which Tambe bowled.

 

20:27 IST: End of the powerplay and RCB are 31/1 with Gayle upping the ante. Spin at both ends now with Rahul Tewatia in the attack.

 

20:23 IST: Pravin Tambe into the attack with Gayle on strike  and FOUR! Gayle sweeps it away for he will not let Tambe settle down into any kind of rhythm.

 

20:21 IST: FOUR! James Faulkner into the attack and Zol picked up the length quickly and bludgeoned that through mid-off.

20:18 IST: FOUR! Vijay Zol gets off the mark in style; slams Watson to the fence as RCB reach 15/1 after 4 overs.

 

20:16 IST: FOUR! Gayle clobbers Watson towards mid-on and that RCB should be very excited to see the big man get into the groove.

 

20:12 IST: WICKET! Richardson strikes in his second over and removes the RCB captain. Poor shot from an out-of-form Kohli and he pays the price; departs for 4. RCB 6/1 off 2.3 overs.

 

20:09 IST: Great first over from Watson; just the one-leg bye to Chris Gayle. RCB 5/0 off 2 overs.

 

20:05 IST: Shane Watson will share the new ball with Richardson. Chris Gayle on strike.

 

20:03 IST: FOUR! Kohli gets off the mark in style; good, positive intent from the RCB captain. RCB 4/0 after the first over.

 

20:00 IST: Virat Kohli is out to open with Chris Gayle. Kane Richardson with the new ball for the Royals.

19:36 IST: Here are the playing XIs:

 

RCB: CH Gayle, PA Patel (WK), V Kohli (Captain), AB de Villiers, Yuvraj Singh, VH Zol, JA Morkel, MA Starc, VR Aaron, YS Chahal, AB Dinda

RR: AM Rahane, KK Nair, SV Samson (WK), SR Watson (Captain), STR Binny, SPD Smith, R Bhatia, JP Faulkner, KW Richardson, PV Tambe, R Tewatia

 

19:32 IST: RCB have decided to bat against RR in Bangalore. Two changes for the hosts, who have added Zol and Dinda while RR recall Bhatia.

Inconsistent Bangalore face tough challenge against Rajasthan

Hammered in their previous match, the struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore will face another tough battle when they take on the resolute Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League game on Sunday. Bangalore were crushed by Kings XI Punjab on Friday and it will take some effort to recover from the thrashing handed out by David Miller.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, were overwhelmed by Sunrisers Hyderabad on the back of an inspiring bowling performance in their last match. (Read more)

Ganguly's 'Words of Wisdom' for struggling Kohli

Indian cricket's pin-up boy Virat Kohli is steadily going from hero to zero in the Indian Premier League 2014. The Royal Challengers Bangalore captain has so far had a poor run with the bat and shares a dubious distinction with former Indian opener and Kolkata Knight Riders captain, Gautam Gambhir. Both have scored three ducks in the IPL 2014.

"Kohli is realising that the combination of captaincy and batsmanship is a bit different and he must quickly find a way to make that mental adjustment," Ganguly wrote in his newspaper column.

"It's not a tough thing to do and my advice to him would be to decide on a plan [for the team] at the start of the game, shut it out completely and direct all his mental energy and space towards scoring runs for himself, though he is bound to get affected at times for wrong decisions," said Ganguly. (Read more)

Head-to-Head stats

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals have played against each other in 12 matches in the IPL and have won six games each. Can Kohli & Co. go one up against the in-form Rajasthan side? Or will Shane Watson power his side to pile on the misery on Bangalore?