Seamers set up Bangalore win
On a slow pitch that lacked bounce, Bangalore restricted Rajasthan to 130 before they knocked it off without much fuss to win a crucial encounter in Jaipur.
On a slow pitch that lacked bounce, Bangalore restricted Rajasthan to 130 before they knocked it off without much fuss to win a crucial encounter in Jaipur.
Presentation
KP is the MOM He says: "Today was a good night, the bowlers set the tone. Very important game, one of those quarter-finals situation. It was important for us to set the tone in the first six, I think we misses a trick there in the last game. I like No. 3 in this format of the game. I just told him [Kohli] that he didn't finish the game!" Good to know they, at least KP, are laughing it off. Nice note to end it on. Good night and good luck
Anil Kumble "It's really nice to win this game. Must-win game, we wanted to get the run-rate up, that's why a few hiccups. For someone like Pankaj to sit out 12 games, and then to come back so well, is a huge thing. We were looking to restrict them to 150, but we bowled even better."
Shane Warne "All credit to Bangalore the way they bowled. The start really cost us. 20 runs short. It was a pretty good pitch still, but there was some good bowling around. Our side has come back well from a poor start. We are still in, but we need miracles. But we have enjoyed the way we have comes back, they way we have behaved as a team."
KP and Kohli shake hands in the dugout. KP has an arm around Kohli's neck now as they walk towards the rest of the team. It takes some time, but Kohli looks up and finally smiles. Bangalore complete a near-perfect win. With 4.2 overs to go, that will boos their net run-rate too. They are second, and at +0.467, ahead of other teams in terms of net run-rate. And my apologies. It was Dravid and Kumble who were having a chat with KP in the dugout, and not Warne and Kumble.
And Larry Brown writes in, "Sacrificing is not beside the point. Kohli let his team down because KP was on fire and they are losing run rate. KP's reaction was bad but Kohli is the one who has put himself before the team." I tend to agree, looking back, both men at fault here. Here's hoping they have sorted it out, and that the slowing down in the end doesn't come back to haunt Bangalore.
Once again Rajasthan batting came short when Watson and Yusuf struggled. Steyn once again was too good with his pace. And KP, before that run-out, ensured there were no hiccups in the chase. Hang on for the presentation
On a slow pitch that lacked bounce, Bangalore restricted Rajasthan to 130 before they knocked it off without much fuss to win a crucial encounter in Jaipur.
Much had changed statistically since these two teams last met, but in terms of familiarity of sequence it was pretty much the same story