Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Live Cricket Score - RCB vs PBKS, Match 48, IPL 2021. Glenn Maxwell's attacking fifty helped RCB post the highest total in Sharjah in this IPL
Glenn Maxwell's attacking fifty helped RCB post the highest total in Sharjah in this IPL
Hello and welcome to the Live Blog for Match 48 of IPL 2021, between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings in Sharjah. Please refresh for latest updates. You can follow the ball by ball here.
RCB finish with 164
AB hits a six off Arshdeep straight down the ground before Sarfaraz's direct hit finds him short at the non-striker's end. He departs for 23 off 18. Maxwell ends the over with a four to the deep square leg fence off a slower delivery as Arshdeep finishes with 0-42 off three overs. Maxwell, however, falls in the final over as he miscues an attempted pull to Sarfaraz at point. He departs for 57 off 33 balls while Shahbaz Ahmed hits a six over deep midwicket before being bowled by Shami, who also picked up the wicket of Garton. It's a good finish nonetheless for RCB, who post 164/7 – the highest total in Sharjah in this edition of the IPL.
Fifty for Maxwell
Maxwell goes leg side and whips a Shami delivery for a four. AB then hits through cover for his first four and then clears long on for his first six. 17 off the Shami over while Maxwell scores a four off Bishnoi and then takes a single to bring up a 29-ball fifty. RCB are 140/3 after 18 overs.
Maxwell leads RCB's charge
Maxwell, who has been in excellent form, gets going with sixes over deep midwicket and deep square leg off Brar in the 13th over. Henriques concedes only four in the 14th over but Maxwell continues in his aggressive ways as he goes over deep mid wicket and straight over Bishnoi's head for two successive sixes. Henriques, meanwhile, bowls another quiet over to finish with 3-12. RCB are 115/3 after 16 overs.
Another for Henriques
Padikkal goes for a cut in the 12th over but there was a bit of extra bounce from Henriques and the batter ends up edging it to the ‘keeper to depart for 40 off 38. RCB are 73/3 after 12 overs with Maxwell and AB at the crease.
Henriques strikes twice in his first over
Finally, something goes right for PBKS in the first 10 overs. Kohli attempts a slog sweep but the ball keeps low and the RCB skipper is bowled by Henriques for 25. Dan Christian gets a promotion but gets out first ball, slicing the ball to Sarfaraz at backward point. RCB are 69/2 after 10 overs.
Poor decision from the third umpire
Padikkal tries to reverse sweep but appears to have got a bit of a glove. Rahul is confident in his appeal and quickly signals for the DRS after the onfield umpire rules it not out. Replays revealed there was a small spike but the third umpire also went with the onfield call. Rahul is clearly displeased and asks the onfield umpire about the decision, signalling that there was a spike.
A profitable powerplay for RCB
RCB's openers have capitalised on the misses to power their side forward. Kohli hits a four off Shami whipping it away while Padikkal hits his second six by sending a full toss from Arshdeep straight over his head while he also gets a boundary to fine leg. It has not been a great day for Arshdeep, who has conceded 26 off two overs. RCB are 55/0 at the end of the powerplay.
RCB batting in powerplay in last 4 matches – 55-0 v CSK, 48-1 v MI, 54-1 v RR, 55-0 v PBKS.
Catches missed:Rahul failed to hold on to an edge from Padikkal off Bishnoi's bowling while Kohli gets another lucky break as Sarfaraz puts down a catch at short mid wicket off Shami.
Lucky break for Kohli:Bishnoi sees the RCB captain coming down the track and bowls it wide down the leg side. But Rahul fails to collect the ball properly and misses a stumping opportunity. Padikkal manages a couple of fours off Bishnoi, although he is also beaten twice by Bishnoi's googlies.
Steady start for RCB
Markram opens the attack and bowls a short one to Kohli who whips it to the square leg fence for a four. It's a quiet over otherwise, with only five coming in it. Kohli crunches an off drive in the second over off Shami but gets only two as Markram chases it down and prevents it from going to the boundary. Padikkal welcomes Arshdeep into the attack with a whip over cow corner for a six before slicing over backward point for a four. He also goes over mid on but does not time it well and Markram does a good job again to save some runs. RCB are 24/0 after 3.
Toss and teams
Virat Kohli wins the toss and RCB will bat. RCB are unchanged while the Kings make three changes. Harpreet Brar replaces an injured Fabian Allen while Sarfaraz Khan and Moises Henriques come in for Deepak Hooda and Nathan Ellis. Only three overseas players for PBKS today.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Daniel Christian, George Garton, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Punjab Kings (Playing XI): KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Build-up:
They started with two successive losses in the UAE leg but RCB have regained their footing with wins against Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in their last two matches and are one step away from booking a spot in the playoffs. Punjab have two wins and two losses since arriving in the Emirates, with their last result being a victory against Kolkata Knight Riders which, along with RR's win against CSK yesterday, has paved way for an exciting battle for the remaining two playoffs spots.
Standing in RCB's way and a stress-free league phase run-in are the Kings, who are now the league's chaotic entertainers that RCB once were. They also match up well against this RCB, better than many teams. It is with this tactical and psychological advantage that KL Rahul will fan his side's hopes of making a late run into the Playoffs. Read the full preview by Kaushik Rangarajan here.
Meanwhile, Deepu Narayanan keeps you up to speed with the IPL 2021 Qualification Scenarios.