Rajasthan Royals defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 19 runs to register their second win of the season.
Chasing an improbable 218, the hosts were off to a disastrous start as Brendon McCullum was out for just 4. Quinton de Kock and Virat Kohli then took the chase forward. At the end of the powerplay, the scoreboard was reading a promising 64 for 1.
With both the batsmen looking set, Ajinkya Rahane handed the ball to D’Arcy Short and the move paid off immediately. The part-timer accounted for de Kock to put an end to the 77-run stand. Kohli then went on to compile his fastest T20 fifty off just 26 balls.
However, Royals strengthened their grip on the game by dismissing Kohli and AB de Villiers in quick succession. It was a herculean task from there on for Bangalore and they eventually managed to finish on
Earlier in the match, a Sanju Samson masterclass propelled Royals to a daunting total of 217 for 4 – their highest against Royal Challengers.
Sent in to bat first, Royals were off to a good start with Ajinkya Rahane and D’Arcy Short adding 49 runs off 33 balls. Chris Woakes broke the stand by dismissing Rahane for 36. 4 runs later, Short departed too.
Sanju Samson and Ben Stokes then took charge of the innings. The duo played some delightful shots to add 49 runs before Yuzvendra Chahal castled Stokes for 27. Samson went on to complete his fifty off just 34 balls. He remained till the end, scoring 92 off just 45 balls to take the score over 200. His innings was studded with 10 sixes and a couple of fours. Samson was well supported by Jos Buttler as the duo added 73 runs off 36 balls.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
It is known that green teams always lose to blue teams ? #RCBvRR
— Angoor Stark ??? (@ladywithflaws) April 15, 2018
#RCBvRR rcb has made it very difficult for the locals to support them. One ends up cheering for Karnataka boys in the opposite teams. Well done #ShreyasGopal today
— Guruprasad ?? (@guru18) April 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/SsupHolmes/status/985511850673451008
Nitish Rana just sent a friend request to Shreyas Gopal.#RCBvRR
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 15, 2018
Stroll in the park for my lads the @rajasthanroyals today … #IPL2018
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 15, 2018
Hope this game will make RCB realize that they cannot play both McCullum and de Kock. They need 2 overseas bowlers. Southee need to come in. If possible, they need to find a replacement for Woakes as well.
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) April 15, 2018
Jos Buttler has taken a catch. ICC must order an investigation.
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 15, 2018
Like most of us, even Jos Buttler has AB de Villiers in his fantasy side.
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) April 15, 2018
RCB has changed their jersey color to green for today but RR ne maar maar ke RCB ko wapas laal kar diya #RCBvRR #IPL2018 #sanjusamson
— Ashish Pathak (@ashpathak1989) April 15, 2018
Kohli, deKock and deVilliers have all got dismissed on half trackers. This is where RCB bowlers learnt their art from in the nets #RCBvRR
— cric_bakchod (@Cric_bakchod) April 15, 2018
Big guns gone match slipping away rapidly from @RCBTweets. Need someone to come up with an explosive, magical innings. Who? #PowerYourGame
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 15, 2018
Rajasthan have got Virat just about at the right time. It’s all Ab de Villiers now, with a lower order that looks a little hollow #RCBvRR
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 15, 2018
Karnataka's players… play for opposition ranks. Why would I support RCB 🙂
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/rameshsrivats/status/985502385492676608
Cricket ?♂️ https://t.co/2Y3YQhElVI
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) April 15, 2018
Sanju Samson is an unbelievable player … makes it look far too easy … he is going to be a superstar .. @rajasthanroyals #IPL #India
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 15, 2018
Now that is what you expect from a player of the undeniable class of Sanju Samson. Not pretty 30s and 40s but biggies. What an innings this was…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 15, 2018
With this talent Sanju Samson should have been playing for India. Amazing through-the-line shots. Effortless #RCBvRR
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 15, 2018
Samson is the most non violent six hitter you can hope to see #RCBvRR
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 15, 2018
Effortless six hitting!! Lazy elegance about each of his last few hits Sanju Samson. Clearing the ropes with ease. Fantastic innings. This will take some getting @RCBTweets #RCBvRR
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) April 15, 2018
Sanju Samson has been consistently impressive since 2013 but has only manifested his brilliance in intermittent bursts.. This is an imperiously superlative innings! Hope he'll be more consistent from now on.. treat to watch #RCBvRR #IPL2018 @SanjuSamsonTeam
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) April 15, 2018
#UdtaUmesh back to normal.
RCB be like – pic.twitter.com/KDg1rZAOuW
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 15, 2018
This is class batting from Samson. Just high class striking. That sweet sound of the willow when it meets the leather and the subsequent mesmerising flow of the bat.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 15, 2018
Ben Stokes taking the precautions after that " punching" incident, he is not even punching the ball.#RCBvRR
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 15, 2018
Jitne ka Ben Stokes khareeda utne mein toh pura Rajasthan 5 saal Bisleri pita. #RCBvRR
— Rofl Gandhi 2.0 ? (@RoflGandhi_) April 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/SamreenRazzaqui/status/985430618006700032
Short hits a short ball towards the shorter side of the ground and is pulled in just short of the boundary..#RCBvRR #PowerYourDream
— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 15, 2018
D'Archy Short should be sent back to Australia with immediate effect, the school tournament has been started there.#RCBvRR
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 15, 2018
Stokes and Samson scoring freely in fruitful partnership, Butler still to come. Looking ominous for @RCBTweets. Wouldn't want to chase too many more than 160. Need a wicket or two soon #PowerYourGame
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 15, 2018
Rahane was facing criticism for his tardy pace of run-making. Looked to amends today, unleashed some terrific strokes, but unfortunately for @rajasthanroyals, ended up with a cameo. Big break for @RCBTweets, but will want Samson, Stokes and Butler cheaply too! #PowerYourGame
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 15, 2018
RCB's record in Green Jersey:
2011: Won v KTK
2012: Lost v MI
2013: Lost v KXIP
2014: Lost v CSK
2015: No result v DD
2016: Won v GL
2017: Lost v KKR
2018: ??? v RRWon just 2 of their last 7 games in Green. #RCBvRR
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 15, 2018
Come on @rajasthanroyals .. Lovely afternoon to quieten the @RCBTweets supporters ……. !!!!! #IPL #RCBvRR
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/rameshsrivats/status/985461412322598913