IPL 2020: Padikkal, de Villiers guide RCB to 152

Abu Dhabi - In the final three overs, Delhi Capitals managed to keep a check on RCB

Devdutt Padikkal struck a half-century (41-ball 50) and AB de Villiers smashed a 21-ball 35 as Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 152/7 against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League match at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

In a crunch encounter for the playoff spot, Delhi bolstered their bowling attack with three overseas quickies Anrich Nortje (3 for 33), Kagiso Rabada (2 for 30) and Daniel Sams. Opting to ball first, Delhi pace battery with spinners R Ashwin (1 for 18) and Axar Patel kept the Bangalore batters under pressure.

Delhi allowed only two boundaries from the first four overs. Opener Josh Philippe (17-ball 12) got out mistiming Rabada’s length ball. Skipper Virat Kohli joined Padikkal but runs were hard to come as Patel and Ashwin bowled tight spells. Kohli, on 13, was dropped by Nortje but the Bangalore skipper (24-ball 29) was felled by Ashwin. The dismissal also ended Padikkal-Kohli 57-run stand.

Padikkal adapted to the conditions and kept rotating strikes with de Villiers. The Keralite raised his 50 from 40 balls – his fourth this season and third in Abu Dhabi. But Nortje returned to dismiss Padikkal and Chris Morris (0). From 112/4 after 16 overs, de Villiers and Shivam Dube lifted the run rate with a couple of fours and sixes. Rabada ended Dube’s 11-ball 17 cameo. In the final over, De Villiers was run out and Nortje snared his third victim Isuru Udana (4).

Bangalore hammered 49 runs from the final five overs but at the cost of five wickets. Bangalore managed 152, a few short of 163, the average first innings score on Abu Dhabi pitch.

• IPL 2024