IPL 10, Match 31, RCB v GL: 5 Game Changing Moments

Royal Challengers Bangalore were hurting deeply after their humiliating loss to Kolkata Knight Riders and a washout in the last game that hampered their chances of qualification for the playoffs. They desperately needed a revival but Gujarat Lions were in no mood to make it easy for them. They inflicted a thumping victory over the hosts and kept their hopes alive.

Earlier, RCB was asked to bat first after Suresh Raina won the toss. RCB’s batting once again suffered an embarrassing collapse and apart from Jadhav and Negi, none of the batsmen could make an impact. They were bowled out for just 134 at the end of 20 overs and were in the threat of losing another match.

GL in reply did not have the perfect start and lost two quick wickets. But Aaron Finch played a magnificent innings of 72 off just 34 balls that provided the cushioning in the chase. He was ably supported by captain Raina and they cruised past the target in the 14th over and won the match by 7 wickets.

Here are the game changing moments from the clash:

#1 Kohli and Gayle departing early

The RCB innings began with the duo of Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle playing with caution. Kohli then broke the shackles with a stunning flick shot that landed outside the boundary. Gayle too struck a four and it seemed as if the big guns were about to launch. But when the duo added 22 runs, the skipper timed a pull shot off Basil Thampi perfectly into the hands of the short leg fielder and he had to walk back for just 10 runs.

Two balls later, Andrew Tye bowled a beauty that nipped away from Gayle and took the outside edge as Dinesh Karthik accepted an easy catch. The two dismissals were huge in the context of the match and gave Gujarat Lions an early advantage in the game and it was an uphill task for the rest of the RCB batsmen.

#2 Kedar Jadhav’s cameo

After three quick wickets, RCB were tottering at 22/3 as Kedar Jadhav walked onto the pitch. He scored just one run from the first 4 balls but slammed Thampi for 3 consecutive boundaries after that. He was looking in an ominous touch and was the only RCB batsmen who managed to find timing on a sluggish pitch.

Jadhav then lofted Ravindra Jadeja over covers for a four and then sent Ankit Soni’s flighted delivery over long-on for a six. It seemed as if the momentum was transferring back in the RCB batting. His cameo of 31 off 18 momentarily put the Lions’ bowling line-up on the back foot and gave hopes of a revival for his side.

#3 AB de Villiers’s run out

Four wickets were down but AB de Villiers was still at the crease. The South African has found himself under such circumstances on a number of occasions and bailed his side out of trouble many times in the past. He had Mandeep Singh for a company and the onus was on the duo to rebuild the innings.

But a silly miscommunication in running between the wickets put an end to AB’s stay at the crease. In the 10th over, Mandeep dabbed a ball towards off side and called for a run. A mix up was created in the middle of the pitch after a series of yes-no calls. Jadeja grabbed the ball and hit the stumps directly at the striker’s end and AB was found miles short of the crease. He had to make the long walk back after scoring just 5 and perhaps it was the moment that turned the game in favor of GL.

#4 Aaron Finch’s onslaught

GL had lost two quick wickets at the top as Ishan Kishan and Brendon McCullum went back inside 5 overs. The Lions’ side was left in a slight spot of bother but it didn’t make any difference to Aaron Finch. Two balls after McCullum’s departure, he parked two consecutive deliveries out of the ground against Samuel Badree and didn’t let the pressure get to him.

He kept sending the shots past the ropes and reached his fifty off just 22 balls that became the fastest by a Lions’ player in IPL history. The Australian finished with 72 runs off just 34 balls that included 5 fours and 6 sixes. His knock proved to be the difference at the end between the two sides.

#5 Chahal’s no ball

Finch was going hammer and tanks at one end and Raina was playing second fiddle to him. He wasn’t timing the ball as well as Finch and when he reached 11 off 19 balls, he slog-swept Chahal that went high up in the air. The fielder on the boundary gratefully accepted the catch and Raina started to make the walk back.

But the umpire asked him to wait as he wanted to check the front foot. The replay suggested that the leg-spinner had overstepped and no part of the foot was behind the line. A no-ball was signaled and the batsman was called back. It was the final nail in the coffin and RCB failed to make a comeback after that.