Bangalore bowlers needed better support from the fielders against Chennai

Royal Challengers Bangalore felt the heat inside the lion's den after being asked to bowl in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final here at MA Chidambaram Stadium yesterday

Bangalore bowlers needed better support from the fielders against Chennai

Royal Challengers Bangalore felt the heat inside the lion's den after being asked to bowl in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final here at MA Chidambaram Stadium yesterday. It felt scripted. The champions were playing in their backyard, on a Saturday evening, defending their crown after winning seven home games on the trot. Add to that, MS Dhoni called right at the toss.

What were the odds of Chennai losing? The likes of Virat Kohli and Saurabh Tiwary, usually very good fielders, were evidently sloppy in the first few overs, allowing Chennai's openers to race past the 50-run mark in just above five overs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's Zaheer Khan attempts to stop a ball off
his own bowling during the Indian Premier League final against Chennai
Super Kings in Chennai on Saturday. PIC/AFP

Off the last ball of the first over, Tiwary allowed Michael Hussey to scamper through for a single just as Zaheer Khan was troubling the Western Australian with a nagging line outside off-stump. Previously in the same over, Syed Mohammed allowed the openers to run an extra single. Off the second ball of the third over, young Mohammed again allowed Hussey to run a non-existent single.u00a0 There was a comedy of errors on the fourth ball of third over. Just as Chris Gayle's leg-before appeal off Hussey was turned down, Tiwary attempted a run-out that resulted in four overthrows. On the second ball of the 10th, Luke Pomersbach dropped Vijay at deep mid-wicket while attempting a running catch. Vijay made RCB pay for it with two more boundaries in the over as Chennai raced along to 94-0 at the end of 10 overs. The second ball of the 12th saw Aravind miss an easy run-out as Hussey was halfway down the track.

Vijay made the bowler pay by hitting two lusty sixes through the mid-wicket region. Once again, off the fourth ball of the 15th, poor fielding saw three overthrows conceded. On the third ball of the penultimate over, Raina survived a close run-out shave.

Once the ball went outside the circle, the batsmen were looking for a minimum of two runs - a clear indication that Bangalore's outfielders didn't put any pressure. Daniel Vettori has maintained that his side has prided itself on its fielding. Clearly, the intensity was below par in the RCB camp.