So Royal Challengers wrap up a 54-run win, and it is a memorable game for Harshal especially. And their all-round performance means they zoom up to No. 3 in the points table. But the action continues tomorrow, and until then, it is a good night and goodbye from Shashank, Raghav, Chandan and me, Himanshu!
Glenn Maxwell is the Player of the Match for his all-round Big Show: "It was pretty close [to being the perfect day]. I though the way Virat and KS got us off well... Those switch-hits is something I have worked on... It was the shorter side... And my bowling is something I have worked on. I'm starting to see the rewards now."
Kohli to speak now: "Very happy, especially the way we won. It was a difficult start when we lost Devdutt. He came in the second over to try and get me out... KS came out and played some amazing shots. He took the pressure off me. Maxi's innings was unbelievable. If you don't try and stamp your authority, Bumrah will get over you - that's how good he is! You have to be at you level best. I'd give it a perfect ten tonight. We left out 15 [runs] out there... Those are the things where we feel we can get 20-25 extra runs. I went with my gut feel with DC [Christian]... With his experience and change-ups, he bowled an amazing over... What Harshal did was unbelievable."
Time for the presentations
Rohit: "Is this the first time that RCB have beaten MI both times in the league stage??" --- Right. In fact, it is the first time they have beaten MI twice in an IPL season, including playoffs or semis.
varnit: "SKY and Ishan's bad form is a crucial factor in MI's inferior performance in this leg. Not just MI, I think, it must be concerning Virat as well considering the fact that these guys are part of the Indian T20 WC squad that will be played on the same grounds." --- Well, we just saw Kohli consoling Kishan after the loss, with the latter looking disappointed as well - and no guesses why.
Riyaz: "Seeing MI at 7th spot (on table) in Pain Deep Pain :'("
The hat-trick hero Harshal: "This is my sixth time on a hat-trick, and the first time I got it - really happy! Pollard is someone who can do damage if you bowl in his areas... so that bluff. I think the way Siraj started - he set the tempo for our bowling performance - and the way Chahal and Maxi bowled..."
RCBian: "985730050... that's not my mobile number, MI Score card from 3-10 batting position"
Here's Rohit Sharma speaking after the loss: "Thought it was a fantastic bowling effort. Looked like they were going to get 180. The batters just let us down. The opening issue has been happening consistently. We have to make sure that the batters carry on. I played a bat shot today and got out; I felt that was the game-changing moment. We need to find ways to bounce back from whatever situations we are in. Kishan is a talented player, we just need to understand the freedom he needs, and need to provide him with that. He had a terrific IPL last year... We wanted to give him the opportunity.. He is relatively young and making his way into international cricket."
9.46pm So a comfortable win for Royal Challengers in the end. Mumbai crumble from 79 for 1 to 111 all out in a flash. A hat-trick for Harshal in his haul of 4 for 17, with Maxwell and Chahal applying the brakes too. Just two batters got into double figures for Mumbai, and Royal Challengers nab two crucial points. Mumbai are now seventh on the points table.
AF Milne b Patel 0 (14m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Yatrik Govani: "Well you just jinxed it for Harshal. He cannot take 5 now. And also Chahal is here to prove something, so no chance for a 5-for to Harshal!"
END OF OVER:18 | (wicket maiden) | MI: 111/9 (55 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.16, RRR: 27.50)
- Trent Boult0 (3b)
- Adam Milne0 (0b)
- Yuzvendra Chahal4-1-11-3
- Harshal Patel3-0-17-3
Boult is the last man. A slip there too
JJ Bumrah b Chahal 5 (6m 6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 83.33
Chahal back from over the wicket
Remember, Harshal had taken a five-for against Mumbai in the first leg too
Anwar: "That dipping slower ball for the hattrick was very shoaib akhtar-esque"
END OF OVER:17 | 6 Runs 3 Wkts | MI: 111/8 (55 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.52, RRR: 18.33)
- Jasprit Bumrah5 (3b)
- Adam Milne0 (0b)
- Harshal Patel3-0-17-3
- Dan Christian2-0-21-0
Bumrah now
RD Chahar lbw b Patel 0 (2m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Chahar to face the hat-trick ball from over the wicket
KA Pollard b Patel 7 (22m 10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 70.00
Stays over for Pollard
Milne is the new man, but will be the non-striker
HH Pandya c Kohli b Patel 3 (13m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
Harshal returns. Over the wicket