IPL Highlights, Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Kohli, De Villiers Masterclass Keeps RCB's Playoff Hopes Alive

Royal Challengers Bangalore lived to fight another day in the Indian Premier League as the star duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers shared a scintillating 118-run stand off 64 balls to script a five-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in Delhi on Sunday. Thanks to Kohli (70 off 40) and de Villiers (72 not out off 37), RCB raced to the 182-run target in 19 overs despite being reduced to two for 18 in the third over. Delhi had scored 181 for four, largely due to the efforts of Rishabh Pant (61 off 34) and debutant Abhishek Sharma (46 not out off 19). The much-needed win tonight was RCB's fourth in 11 games, keeping them in contention for a playoff spot. The loss for the hosts meant their campaign got worse as they registered their ninth defeat in 12 matches. The RCB chase was reminiscent of Sunrisers Hyderabad's effort here on Thursday when they hunted down a 188-run target with ease. The dew factor also played out in the second half of the game, just like the other night. The batting conditions were ideal and Kohli and de Villiers played shots of the highest calibre to enthral a full house. It was Delhi's home game but it seemed most of the fans had turned up to chant Kohli, Kohli'. Amongst Kohli's seven fours and three sixes, his front foot lofted drive over long-off stood out. As one would expect, de Villiers too came up with delightful shots, collecting four boundaries and six sixes in total. He ended the match with a straight hit over the fence off Trent Boult.

Delhi Daredevils rode some power-packed batting by Rishabh Pant and talented teenager Abhishek Sharma to post a challenging total of 181/4 in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Pant plundered 61 runs off 34 balls to help Delhi overcome some early hiccups. The 17-year-old Sharma gave the finishing touches to the innings, smashing his way to 46 runs off just 19 balls to give the hosts a very good chance to clinch the fourth win of a rather forgettable campaign. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the most successful among the RCB bowlers with figures of 2/28. Delhi suffered their first blow in the opening over itself when opener Prithvi Shaw was bowled while attempting a rather languid shot off Chahal's bowling. Chahal got rid of Jason Roy, the other Delhi opener, in his next over with a sharply incoming delivery that totally bamboozled the England batsman before going on to disturb the stumps. Pant and Shreyas Iyer came together to add 93 runs between over the next 62 deliveries in an attempt to bring the Delhi innings back on track. Pant played a major role in boosting the run rate. His power packed knock included five hits to the fence and four towering sixes. Off-spinner Moeen Ali finally brought the rampage to an end when Pant attempted another big hit, only to be caught by AB de Villiers near the boundary rope wide of long-on. Iyer amassed a patient 32 off 35 balls before he too departed in an attempt to pump up the run rate. The right-hander had attempted to smash pacer Mohammed Siraj over the onside, but his mistimed shot could only manage to find RCB skipper Virat Kohli. Delhi's teenaged all-rounder Abhishek Sharma then produced some fireworks lower down the order to help the hosts post a challenging total. The 17-year-old thumped three boundaries and four hits into the stands as Delhi finished their innings on a high note.

Royal Challengers Bangalore need a win desperately and Virat Kohli's team will have the perfect opportunity to do when they face bottom-placed and already eliminated Delhi Daredevils in an IPL 2018 encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday night. A win for RCB will help them stay in playoff contention, however, Delhi will be solely playing for pride and could end up being the party-poopers for RCB. Despite Delhi's last place in IPL 2018, a win will not come easy for RCB. Delhi Daredevils have actually been quite impressive under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer but some rotten luck juxtaposed with poor fielding at crucial junctures have cost them, dear. (Play Fantasy Cricket & Win Lakhs everyday!)

RCB, who have just three wins from 10 games, have to win their remaining four games to have any chance of making the playoffs. Given their ordinary run so far in the IPL 2018, RCB don't evoke much hope. Skipper Kohli didn't mince any words following his team's loss to SunRisers Hyderabad in their previous match. Kohli slammed the team for not being good enough on the day and said that they didn't deserve to win the match. Kohli, the team's leading run-scorer with 396 runs at 49.50, was understandably upset after RCB were unable to chase down a modest 147. The batsmen had also let them down against Chennai Super Kings in the previous game, managing just 127. The team has always relied heavily on Kohli and AB de Villiers but it is high time the likes of Mandeep Singh, Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum deliver. (SCORECARD)

IPL 2018 highlights of Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match, straight from Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi 

23:30 IST: It's all over. AB de Villiers hits the winning runs. RCB beat DD by 5 wickets with an over to spare. 

RCB are still alive and DD have officially been knocked out.

After 18 overs, RCB are 172/5

23:25 IST: It was a low full toss on off from Harshal Patel that went straight to Prithvi Shaw at a very fine leg.

After 17 overs, RCB are 158/4

23:16 IST: This Trent Boult delivery crashed into middle stump. Straight on middle stump. Mandeep missed the pull, and the ball went through the gates.

23:12 IST: WICKET! Mandeep b Boult 13(14)

After 16 overs, RCB are 153/3

23:06 IST: 150 up for RCB in the 16th over. They need 29 runs in 24 balls now.

After 15 overs, RCB are 147/3

23:06 IST: RCB might have lost Virat Kohli but they still have AB de Villiers. They are cruising towards their target of 182.

After 13 overs, RCB are 139/3

23:01 IST: This Amit Mishra delivery was full outside off, and turning away from Virat Kohli. The batsman tried to play the inside out drive, but the ball took some extra bounce and took the outside edge of the bat. Rishabh Pant took the catch.

22:57 IST: WICKET! Virat Kohli c Pant b Mishra 70(40)

After 13 overs, RCB are 132/2

22:54 IST: The 100-run partnership between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers comes up with a SIX off Kohli's bat over the deep midwicket.

Now, AB de Villiers gets his fifty off 28 balls with a SIX over long on!

After 11 overs, RCB are 103/2

22:45 IST: 100 up for RCB in the 11th over. AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli are making batting look ridiculously easy now.

After 10 overs, RCB are 95/2

22:42 IST: AB de Villiers hit Amit Mishra for SIX runs. The delivery was flighted outside off, but too wide. AB took a giant stride and lifted it over the extra-cover boundary.

After 9 overs, RCB are 85/2

22:34 IST: 34th IPL fifty for Virat Kohli and 4th this season.

After 8 overs, RCB are 76/2

22:28 IST: 50-run partnership is up between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in 29 deliveries. 

After 6 overs, RCB are 58/2

22:20 IST: 50 up for RCB in the 6th over. Exceptional powerplay for RCB in chase of 182.

22:15 IST: FOUR! Now, Kohli hits it towards long-off for a boundary. After 5 overs RCB are 45/2 in pursuit of 182

22:10 IST: FOUR! AB de Villiers smashes it for his first boundary. Those four dots were always leading into this

After 3 overs, RCB are 18/2

22:05 IST: First wicket for Lamichhane. Parthiv got down to sweep and the ball spun to trap Patel in front of the middle stump.

22:03 IST: WICKET! Parthiv Patel lbw b Lamichhane 6(8)

22:01 IST: It was a back of the length delivery, Ali tucked up for room around off, the ball got stuck into the pitch and was caught at short cover.

21:55 IST: WICKET! Moeen Ali c Prithvi Shaw b Boult 1(3)

21:50 IST: Parthiv Patel and Moeen Ali are at the crease. Lamichhane will open the attack

Delhi Daredevils post 181/4 in 20 overs.

After 18 overs, DD are 161/4

21:23 IST: 150 up for DD in the 18th over as Abhishek Sharma hits Siraj for a SIX to third man. 14 off the 18th over.

After 17 overs, DD are 147/4

21:20 IST: FOUR, SIX, SIX. Abhishek Sharma takes on Tim Southee. 22 runs off the 17th over.

After 16 overs, DD are 125/4

21:15 IST: Mohammed Siraj removes Shreyas Iyer. The delivery was full on off, angling into Iyer's pads. Iyer lifted it off his toes towards long on, but Virat Kohli at the cow-corner boundary held on to it.

21:10 IST: WICKET! Shreyas Iyer c Kohli b Siraj 32(35)

After 14 overs, DD are 113/3

21:02 IST: AB de Villiers might have dropped an easy catch to give a lifeline to Shreyas Iyer but he to an excellent sliding catch at long on to dismiss Rishabh Pant. The ball was full outside off, and Pant was forced to reach it. Pant smashed it towards the long-on boundary, but De Villiers raced across to his left to complete a difficult catch.

20:59 IST: WICKET! Rishabh Pant c de Villiers b Moeen Ali 61(34) 

After 12 overs, DD are 101/2 

20:52 IST: Rishabh Pant brings up his 7th IPL fifty. 100 up for DD in the 12th over.

After 10 overs, DD are 78/2 

20:45 IST: There was a golden opportunity to dismiss Shreyas Iyer but AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli messed up a catch.

After 8 overs, DD are 62/2 

20:37 IST: Another short of the length delivery from Sira. Pant held back and sent it straight over the long-off for a SIX.

20:36 IST: 50 up for DD in the 8th over.

20:35 IST: Rishabh Pant takes on Mohammed Siraj to Pant. Siraj bowled too short and got the beating. A 142.4-km/h short ball pulled off the front foot over deep midwicket for a SIX.

After 7 overs, DD are 48/2 

20:32 IST: Two back to back brilliant overs for RCB. They are not letting two in-form batsmen flex their muscles and hit big.

After 5 overs, DD are 39/2 

20:23 IST: Finally a good over for DD. Skipper Shreyas Iyer and centurion from the last match Rishabh Pant look in excellent touch.

After 4 overs, DD are 28/2 

20:15 IST: Excellent start by RCB with the ball. They still have the opportunity to make it to the playoff while DD are just playing for pride.

20:07 IST: Chahal bowled a googly around off. Jason Roy fell for the flight and came forward. Didn't pick the variation and the ball sneaked through to flatten the stumps.

20:06 IST: WICKET! Jason Roy b Chahal 12(9)

20:05 IST: It was the slider that pitches on middle and went straight. Shaw tried to work it towards the leg side but played down the wrong line. Crashes into leg stump.

20:03 IST: WICKET! Prithvi Shaw b Chahal 2(4)

20:00 IST: Prithvi Shaw and Jason Roy are at the crease. Chahal will open the attack

Meanwhile, at the Kotla, @RCBTweets have won the toss and will bowl first against @DelhiDaredevils #VIVOIPL #DDvRCB pic.twitter.com/SPXfoq8TmV

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 12, 2018

RCB (Playing XI): Parthiv Patel(w), Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Moeen Ali, Sarfaraz Khan, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal​

Delhi Daredevils (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Jason Roy, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Vijay Shankar, Harshal Patel, Abhishek Sharma, Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane, Junior Dala, Trent Boult

19:30 IST: Royal Challengers Bangalore win the toss and opt to bowl 

All-rounder Washington Sundar has been disappointing so far, taking just four wickets in seven games at an average of 48 and economy rate of 9.60. With the bat too, he has done anything of note. RCB have done alright with the ball in the last few matches and they would be hoping to maintain that at the high-scoring Kotla. Pacers Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Siraj have impressed in parts. Kohli looked relaxed ahead of the must-win game as he went out for dinner with teammates in his home city. Delhi are already down and out after losing to SunRisers, confirming their early exit from the competition. Even a special effort from Rishabh Pant was not enough for the hosts as Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Kane Williamson produced the goods for SRH. Delhi's bowling coach James Hopes and captain Shreyas Iyer insisted that there is a lot to play for. There is a possibility that Delhi management might give an opportunity to Nepal spinner Sandeep Lamichhane and South African pacer Junior Dala, both of whom are yet to get a game.

Squads:

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (Captain), Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum, AB de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Chris Woakes, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Colin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali, Pawan Negi, Mohammed Siraj, Corey Anderson, Parthiv Patel, Tim Southee.

Delhi Daredevils: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Rishabh Pant, Glenn Maxwell, Gautam Gambhir, Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Mohammed Shami, Amit Mishra, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Daniel Christian, Jayant Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Trent Boult, Manjot Kalra, Abhishek Sharma, Sandeep Lamichhane, Naman Ojha, Sayan Ghosh, Liam Plunkett, Junior Dala.