<p>A brilliant counter-attacking knock from Kedar Jadhav and a collective effort from the bowlers fashioned Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 15-run win over Delhi Daredevils here in their Indian Premier League tie at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Saturday.<br /><br />Electing to bat first, the hosts were lifted to a decent total of 157 for eight in 20 overs thanks to a scintillating half-century (69, 37b, 5x5, 5x5) by Jadhav.<br /><br />The Daredevils made a mess of what was an achievable target and ended at 142 for nine to hand the Challengers their first win of the season.<br /><br />Rishabh Pant (57, 36b, 3x4, 4x6), playing his first game after the demise of his father, threatened to take the game away from RCB with his fighting knock. The left-hander showed great courage to wage a lone battle and essayed an attacking innings.<br /><br />With Delhi needing 19 in the final over it was all up to Pant but the 19-year-old fell in the first ball, virtually ending his team’s chances of a win. <br /><br />After their dismal show in their opening game, the bowlers produced an improved show to script a fine win in what was RCB’s first home game. Billy Stanlake (2/29), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/19), Iqbal Abdulla (2/36) and Pawan Negi (2/3) all got among wickets while Shane Watson and Tymal Mills were brilliant in the death overs.<br /><br />It was Jadhav’s innings that made the difference for RCB. The right-hander and Stuart Binny joined forces with their team in real trouble at 55/3 in the ninth over.<br /><br />Following three quiet overs, Jadhav showed first signs of aggression by taking on Amit Mishra in his first over. He welcomed the leg-spinner with a six over long-on and then slammed a flat four past the bowler. The Maharashtra batsman wasn’t done yet and smashed two maximums as RCB collected 24 runs in the over.<br /><br />In the next over, making full use of his bottom hand, Jadhav flicked one for four off Carlos Brathwaite and struck a straight six to bring up the 50-run stand in just 26 balls.<br /><br />Delhi pulled things back through Zaheer Khan as the left-arm seamer broke the partnership by sending Binny back to the pavilion.<br /><br />In the 16th over, Delhi pushed RCB back to the wall by bagging two wickets. A ball after Vishnu Vinod was dismissed run out, Zaheer scalped the most important wicket of Jadhav.<br /><br />Jadhav’s brilliant knock came to an end when he tried to slog one over Zaheer but failed to get the distance and was caught at long off.<br /><br />Earlier, RCB’s top order found the going tough against a disciplined Daredevils attack. Pat Cummins and Chris Morris mixed their lengths well and maintained a tight line to deny the hosts a strong start. <br /><br />Chris Gayle once again failed to fire and was the first to depart. The Jamaican mis-hit a full toss from Chris Morris and Sanju Samson showed good reflexes to run behind and take a diving catch at mid-off.<br /><br />Mandeep Singh too fell cheaply and RCB’s hopes of a Watson special were crushed when the right-hander fell to Shahbaz Nadeem. The all-rounder was beaten in the flight and Pant completed a neat stumping.<br /><br />The RCB’s lower-order struggled to attack in the fag end of the innings but Jadhav’s gem eventually proved to be just enough for the Challengers.<br /></p>
<p>A brilliant counter-attacking knock from Kedar Jadhav and a collective effort from the bowlers fashioned Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 15-run win over Delhi Daredevils here in their Indian Premier League tie at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Saturday.<br /><br />Electing to bat first, the hosts were lifted to a decent total of 157 for eight in 20 overs thanks to a scintillating half-century (69, 37b, 5x5, 5x5) by Jadhav.<br /><br />The Daredevils made a mess of what was an achievable target and ended at 142 for nine to hand the Challengers their first win of the season.<br /><br />Rishabh Pant (57, 36b, 3x4, 4x6), playing his first game after the demise of his father, threatened to take the game away from RCB with his fighting knock. The left-hander showed great courage to wage a lone battle and essayed an attacking innings.<br /><br />With Delhi needing 19 in the final over it was all up to Pant but the 19-year-old fell in the first ball, virtually ending his team’s chances of a win. <br /><br />After their dismal show in their opening game, the bowlers produced an improved show to script a fine win in what was RCB’s first home game. Billy Stanlake (2/29), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/19), Iqbal Abdulla (2/36) and Pawan Negi (2/3) all got among wickets while Shane Watson and Tymal Mills were brilliant in the death overs.<br /><br />It was Jadhav’s innings that made the difference for RCB. The right-hander and Stuart Binny joined forces with their team in real trouble at 55/3 in the ninth over.<br /><br />Following three quiet overs, Jadhav showed first signs of aggression by taking on Amit Mishra in his first over. He welcomed the leg-spinner with a six over long-on and then slammed a flat four past the bowler. The Maharashtra batsman wasn’t done yet and smashed two maximums as RCB collected 24 runs in the over.<br /><br />In the next over, making full use of his bottom hand, Jadhav flicked one for four off Carlos Brathwaite and struck a straight six to bring up the 50-run stand in just 26 balls.<br /><br />Delhi pulled things back through Zaheer Khan as the left-arm seamer broke the partnership by sending Binny back to the pavilion.<br /><br />In the 16th over, Delhi pushed RCB back to the wall by bagging two wickets. A ball after Vishnu Vinod was dismissed run out, Zaheer scalped the most important wicket of Jadhav.<br /><br />Jadhav’s brilliant knock came to an end when he tried to slog one over Zaheer but failed to get the distance and was caught at long off.<br /><br />Earlier, RCB’s top order found the going tough against a disciplined Daredevils attack. Pat Cummins and Chris Morris mixed their lengths well and maintained a tight line to deny the hosts a strong start. <br /><br />Chris Gayle once again failed to fire and was the first to depart. The Jamaican mis-hit a full toss from Chris Morris and Sanju Samson showed good reflexes to run behind and take a diving catch at mid-off.<br /><br />Mandeep Singh too fell cheaply and RCB’s hopes of a Watson special were crushed when the right-hander fell to Shahbaz Nadeem. The all-rounder was beaten in the flight and Pant completed a neat stumping.<br /><br />The RCB’s lower-order struggled to attack in the fag end of the innings but Jadhav’s gem eventually proved to be just enough for the Challengers.<br /></p>
