Twitter Reactions: RCB defeat Pune by 13 runs at their fortress

The Rising Pune Supergiants took on the Royal Challengers Bangalore at their fortress in Pune playing their first home game. MS Dhoni won the toss as RPS elected to field first. While RPS brought in Bhatia, RCB had the Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi coming in.

Batting first, RCB lost KL Rahul early but Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers built on a magnificent partnership of 155 runs from just 95 balls. While Kohli raced his way to an elegant 80 from 63 deliveries, ABD smashed 83 runs from just 46 balls. They took RCB to a high total of 185/3 in their quota of 20 overs with both losing their wickets in the last over. For Pune, Thisara Perera was the standout bowler as he picked all the 3 wickets. It was a par total in this ground and RPS had to begin well.

However, in the most unfortunate circumstances, they lost Faf du Plessis and Steve Smith early while Kevin Pietersen injured himself as he limped off the field. Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni then steered Pune towards the total but once both of them got out, it became difficult for RPS.

However, Perera’s pinch hitting cameo of 34 from 13 balls brought back RPS into the game. Watson then bowled a tight penultimate over giving just 4 runs and picking 2 wickets as RCB went on to win the game by 13 runs. Richardson was the pick of the bowlers for RCB as he took 3 wickets and was quite economical as well.

Twitter kept everyone entertained with some splendid tweets throughout the game. Right from trolling RPS bowlers to lauding RCB batsmen. Here are some of the tweets that took place during the course of the game:

AB de Villiers is the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock. — https://t.co/wDwWAeW0Ew #RPSvRCB #IPL

— CricWizz (@CricWizz) April 22, 2016

Dhoni: "KP's injury could be a blessing in disguise. Could allow us to play Albie or Marsh"https://t.co/FzrEhFhT6X #RPSvRCB #IPL2016

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 22, 2016

Me: "OK Google, tell me what De Villiers can't do in a cricket field"
Google: "Sorry, even we are looking for it…"#RPSvRCB

— Vignesh Waran (@vwaran97) April 22, 2016

AB is a freak. Blessed to be alive to see him perform. No partnership is more threatening than AB-VK. Well played ?? #RPSvRCB

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 22, 2016

Kohli: "That was closer than we thought it would be"https://t.co/FzrEhFhT6X #RPSvRCB #IPL2016

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 22, 2016

So a side batting first has won……..

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 22, 2016

Indian (no more) Chasing League…. 14/16…#ipl

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) April 22, 2016

Give Man-of-the-Match to Watson just for that over.

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) April 22, 2016

The difference between the two knocks by MS and Virat was that Virat was dropped on 50 off 50 and he finished with 27 off last 10

— Harisankar (@harish_staycalm) April 22, 2016

Kane Richardson had 2 overs left but Virat Kohli got Harshal Patel to bowl the 18th.
2 minutes silence for that captaincy blunder. #RPSvRCB

— Aditya (@forwardshortleg) April 22, 2016

https://twitter.com/holdingwilley/status/723572503919136770

Just got back from school…looks like it's gonna be a close finish!! COOOOME ONNNNN #RCB!!!!!!!!! #RPSvRCB #IPL @RCBTweets

— Sid Mallya (@sidmallya) April 22, 2016

Just Sent Friend Request To Harshal Patel. You Won My Heart Boy. – 6 1 4 4 4 6#RPSvRCB #RCBvRPS #IPL2016

— Sir Ishant Sharma (@SirIshantSharma) April 22, 2016

Kohli has had heard a lot of praises in the recent past. So, he gave it to Harshal Patel to listen to the other side ?? #RPSvRCB

— Shashi (@AllTimeBakchod) April 22, 2016

Adding insult to injury…that was OUT and Thisara deposits the next into the stands. #RPSvRCB

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 22, 2016

https://twitter.com/holdingwilley/status/723570923043856384

Imagine having a No.4 in ODIs doing what MSD is doing now. Milking the fuck out of bowlers. Such stubbornness in sticking to his ways.

— Alagappan Vijaykumar (@IndianMourinho) April 22, 2016

The state of the #RPSvRCB match right now:-
Rahane-Dhoni hai, toh Pune hai,
Rahane-Dhoni nahi, toh Pune bhi nahi.#IPL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) April 22, 2016

Rising Pune is too low down the table now. They need Dinda to help them toput a high jump to reach the top half of the table #RPSvRCB

— Shashi (@AllTimeBakchod) April 22, 2016

I've heard of wheels coming off, but this is insane. One bad shot, one act of god, and one act of the godlike.

— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) April 22, 2016

AB de Villiers & Virat Kohli have added 478 runs for 3rd wicket in 4 innings in this season
478 runs @ 119.5#Unreal pic.twitter.com/s8XvdkJBEY

— Jasveer Singh Kharra (@imjsk27) April 22, 2016

Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers have once again been dismissed in the same over! Parera is the man this time! #IPL9

— Manya ? (@CSKian716) April 22, 2016

One Ashwin Bowls half spin

One Ashwin Bowls leg spin

Then there is AB who plays both Right hand and left hand bat!

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 22, 2016

How did the match pan out? – IPL 9 Match 16 Review: Kohli, de Villiers fire as RPSG go down fighting