IPL 14: 2021
1st Match, Royal Challengesr Bangalore (RCB) VS Mumbai Indiains (MI)
Played at Chennai on 9 March 2021
Mumbai Indians ( MI ) 159/9 in 20 Overs ( Chris Lynn 49, Suryia Kumar Yadav 31, Ishan Kishan 28, Rohit Sharma 19, Harshal Patel 5/27)
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) :160/8 in 20 Overs (AB de Villiers 48, Glen Maxwell 39, Virat Kohli 33, Jasprit Bumrah 2/26, Marco Jansen 2/28)
RCB won by 2 wickets
Player of the match: Harshel Patel
In the very first match of VIVO IPL 14:2021 a twinkling star outshone the planets in the IPL galaxy. Who knew about Harshel Patel. Over night he became new rock star. Bookies must have meant a good business.
Among the alarming spread of the second wave of Corona Virus across India BCCI inspired IPL management maintain COVID bio bubble launched VIVO IPL14: 2021 version yesterday. In the battle of giants reigning champions MI and strong challengers RCB there were many rock and roll matiness idols. But little known 30 years medium pacer from Gujrat Harshal Patel rocked. Taking 5 wickets for 26 runs he single handedly destroyed the strong batting line up of champions MI on a sluggish wicket keeping a bit low. RCB won the tight contest where flamboyant AB de Villiers pulled the out playing his business-as-usual innings of 48 in 27 deliveries. Batting first MI could post below par 159/9 in-allotted overs. RCB managed hopping across on the last ball scoring 160/8. MI kept the tradition of losing the first match yet again. It is a lost distance gamble. Nevertheless, a good win for RCB. In cricket morning not too often shows the day.
World cricket enjoys the sweet combination of Bollywood and Cricket in the IPL mega show of 20+20 = 40 mega overs. There was no less excitement or entertainment in the first match of the mega cricket event of the 14th edition at a time when even in India people are fighting for survival from massive spread of the second wave Corona Virus. MI is the reigning champion aiming to set a new milestone of winning three on the trot. RCB is on a mission again for its maiden trophy win. We are not sure rapidly spreading COVID would allow to let VIVO IPL 2021 going to the distance. But low scoring first match on a sluggish wicket already took the match down to the wire. RCB won the match on the last ball by 2 wickets.
AMONG THE GALXY OF DAZZLING STARS A LITTLE STAR HARSHAL PATEL SPARKED.
Winning the toss VK let MI to bat on not an ideal wicket for a white ball cricket T20 match. Stroke makers were struggling from the very first ball. Rohit Sharma staring the innings with Queensland blaster Chris Lynn looked in goof form. Unfortunately, him and MI got rocked he got himself run out ironically through Kohli Chahal combination after scoring 19. This brought Indian rookie Suriya Kumar pairing with Lynn. They were going along sweetly although not at pace they would have liked. Yet their 70 runs 2nd wicket partnership 7 overs laid the foundation for the middle and late middle order blasters like Ishan Kishan, Pandya brothers and Pollard to set a challenging target. But surprising many coming to bowl at number 5 a little known Gujrati boy Harshal Patel rocked much vaunted MI batting line up. 5 of the 10 batsmen could not even reach double digit. Lynn (49 in 35 balls), Suryakumar (31 in 23) and Ishan Kishan (28 in 19) got start but none of them could bat deep as Patel came into the act. Had few catches were not dropped of his bowling his 5/27 could look still better. Thanks to RCB match planner they read the wicket well and VK used him very smartly. Taking off the pace on such a wicket was the right strategy. MI score of 159/9 was too big but was also not to small for chasing where playing strokes was not easy.
Surprising all, Virat came to bat Washington Sundar perhaps to offset the impacts of Boult and Bumrah combination with right and left combination. This wicket did not suit either Boult or Bumrah. Yet the two champions knew very well how to adjust. Kohli in his true element looked like tweeting. 36 runs were knocked off by the 5th over Krunal Pandya removed Sundar and immediately after than Boult cleaned up Rajat Patidar. Kohli smartly held back ABD. The prized purchase Glen Maxwell joined VK. Two rock stars VK (33) and GM (39) adding 52 runs for 3rd wicket partnership defying good bowling on a gripping wicket set the platform. But even then, when Bumrah and Jansen removed them in quick succession RCB innings stuttered a bit. But a maestro ABD displayed his brand of trademark innings. He can travel “Where Eagles Dare”. He delivered what doctors prescribed. His 48 in 27 deliveries let RCB pull off the tight in the last ball of the match soring 160/8 by 2 wickets. MI may be the winners of five editions and two in back-to-back but in many editions, they lost the first match. Yesterdays was no different. Anyway, a good start for RCB. Virat won the first round against Rohit by technical knockout.
BDST: 1129 HRS, APR 10, 2021
SMS
