Guwahati dey show face today as rain try to spoil the party for IPL match wey suppose hold between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. But after small delay, the two unbeaten teams finally show face for Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Toss happen around 8pm, and RR captain Riyan Parag win am, decide to bowl first. Wet pitch dey make sense for seamers.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar announce one change: Josh Hazlewood come in for Jacob Duffy. For RR side, Brijesh Sharma replace Tushar Deshpande. But just as Patidar dey talk, rain come back again! Covers rush comot for the pitch. Fans dey wait with patience. After some minutes, rain stop and ground staff begin to dry the field. Match finally start by 8:40pm, no overs lost.
Jofra Archer take the new ball for RR. First ball of the innings! Archer fire one short at Phil Salt, the Englishman try to flick but edge go straight up. Dhruv Jurel catch am easy. Salt out for golden duck! RCB 0/1 from ball one. Wetin a start!
Devdutt Padikkal join Virat Kohli for the middle. The two begin to counterattack. Padikkal cut one for four, Kohli flick another boundary. But Nandre Burger over dey scatter with wides and byes. Kohli even get one edge wey fly past Jurel for four. Lucky man. RCB reach 32/1 after 2 overs.
Archer come back for his second over. Kohli continue to flow, guide two more boundaries. But then Archer strike again! Hard length to Padikkal, he pull but no power. Shimron Hetmyer run from deep square leg, put dive forward and catch am! Brilliant catch. Padikkal go for 14. RCB 45/2 in 3 overs.
Kohli dey in mood o. He bring up RCB fifty with another lofted cover drive. But then Ravi Bishnoi enter the attack. The spinner bowl one googly, Kohli try to slog but miss completely. Timber! Kohli clean bowled for 32 from 16 balls. Big wicket! RCB 58/3.
Powerplay end with RCB on 61/3. Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya dey try to rebuild. But Bishnoi strike again! Pandya dance down, try to loft but mishit go straight to Hetmyer at long-off. Hetmyer dive forward again, catch am! Pandya out for 1. RCB 62/4.
Jitesh Sharma come in. But pressure dey tell. Brijesh Sharma bowl one wey stay low, hit Jitesh on the pad. Plumb LBW! Jitesh go for 5. RCB 76/5. Tim David join Patidar. The two try to repeat their partnership from last game. David hit one four, but then try to hammer Brijesh over long-on. Hetmyer again! Comfortable catch. David out for 13. RCB 94/6 at the halfway mark.
So far, RR bowlers dominate completely. Jofra Archer get 2 wickets, Ravi Bishnoi get 2, Brijesh Sharma get 2. RCB top order collapse after Kohli dismissal. The defending champions dey in serious trouble for Guwahati. Rajat Patidar still dey there on 20*, but he need support from Romario Shepherd and the tail.
The match dey live, but one thing clear: Rajasthan Royals show say dem no dey joke this season. Their bowling attack dey ruthless. RCB, wey dey fly high before, now dey struggle to find footing. Wetin go happen next? We dey watch.
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