IPL news: RCB triumph despite Rishanbh Pant's half-century

Billy Stanlake

RCB's Billy Stanlake and mates celebrate the wicket of DD's Karun Nair in Bangalore on Saturday. Pic/PTI

Bangalore: When the required run rate at the start of a chase in a T20 game is a little less than eight runs an over, the task is normally easy. More so, on a Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch, known for its big scores, and against the Royal Challengers Bangalore attack. And yet the Delhi Daredevils faltered, a combination of sheer pace from IPL debutant Billy Stanlake and as many as three spinners, all of whom spin the ball away from the right-hander, doing the visitors in.

Set 158 to get after RCB won the toss and strangely chose to bat, DD, despite a brave 57 from young Rishab Pant, who, coming off a personal tragedy, hammered the first ball he faced over midwicket for six, finished at 142-9 handing RCB a 15-run win. That it came despite the continued absence of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers made it sweeter for the hosts.

They have Kedar Jadhav (69, 37b, 5x4, 5x6) to thank for that. After both Chris Gayle and stand-in skipper Shane Watson had failed yet again, it was Jadhav, who took charge against a strong Delhi attack, marshalled by the veteran Zaheer Khan.

Jadhav may well turn to be RCB's mainstay this season, the confidence gained from his ODI exploits against England earlier in the year most apparent.

If Gayle is the left-handed slogger in the side, Jadhav is the right handed version. He is all about substance, style doesn't come in his way. And for a small made man he can be brutal.

The heavy bats these days allow for even ordinary batsmen to clear the midwicket and long on areas but Jadhav is different as he smote both the leg spin of Mishra and Braithwate inside out too, over cover for sixes.

As many as five sixes blasted off Jadhav's bat, one Mishra over costing as much as 24 runs, this just after left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem had completed his four overs for a mere 13 runs. Never been too comfortable against left-arm spin. Hathe wily Zaheer Khan not packed off Jadhav with a clever slower one off his last ball of the night, RCB could have looked at adding another 15-20 runs at least. As it turned out, they did have enough on the night, and despite Pant's real heroics.