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IPL PIX: Maxwell shines as RCB trounce Mumbai

Last updated on: September 27, 2021 00:17 IST

Images from the Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in Dubai on Sunday.

IMAGE: Glenn Maxwell celebrates after taking the wicket of Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma. Photograph: BCCI

Glenn Maxwell's brilliant all-round performance and Harshal Patel's hat-trick powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to a thumping 54-run victory against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League match, in Dubai, on Sunday.

 

Maxwell, who hit 56, took 2/23 including the key wicket of Rohit as Mumbai were bowled out for 111 in 18.1 overs in reply to RCB's 165/6.

Medium pacer Harshal sent the Mumbai lower order collapsing with the wickets of Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar off successive deliveries in the 17th over.

IMAGE: RCB's Harshal Patel celebrates after taking the wicket of Rahul Chahar to complete his hat-trick. Photograph: BCCI

For defending champions Mumbai Indians, Rohit (43) and Quinton de Kock (28) were the only two batsmen to score in double digits, as they lost 10 wickets for 54 runs after being well-placed at 57 for no loss at one stage.

Mumbai Indians dropped to seventh place in the standings with four wins from 10 games, while RCB inched closer to the play-offs, with 12 points from 10 games.

Harshal finished with splendid figures of 4/17 in 3.1 overs and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, left out of India's T20 World Cup squad, proved his worth with brilliant figures of 3/11 in four overs, including a maiden.

IMAGE: A jubilant Harshal Patel after taking the wicket of Kieron Pollard. Photograph: BCCI

Rohit got going with three boundaries in a single over from Kyle Jamieson as Mumbai went on the attack in the early overs to make most of the Powerplay.

Chahal got the breakthrough as he dismissed de Kock, who was caught by Maxwell for 23.

The Australian then made the crucial breakthrough with the wicket of Rohit, who was caught at long-on by Devdutt Padikkal, which triggered the MI batting collapse.

IMAGE: RCB's players celebrate after Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Quinton de Kock. Photograph: BCCI

Ishan Kishan (9 off 12 balls) continued his poor showing as he tried to break free against Chahal but was caught on the off-side and Krunal Pandya (5) was bowled by Maxwell, attempting a big swing.

Surykumar Yadav (8) also failed to get back among the runs as he offered a simple to short thirdman off Mohammed Siraj.

Harshal destroyed the Mumbai batting with his hat-trick in the 17th over. Hardik Pandya looked to hit Mumbai out of trouble but ended up miscuing it to Kohli in the covers to perish for three.

IMAGE: Glenn Maxwell celebrates after completing his half-century. Photograph: BCCI

Pollard was dismissed off the next ball, as he walked across his stumps but missed the flick and was bowled for seven.

Harshal completely deceived Rahul Chahar with the slower ball to trap him leg before wicket and complete his hat-trick.

Fitting, it was Harshal, who took the final wicket as he bowled Adam Milne for a duck to bowl RCB to a big win.

IMAGE: RCB captain Virat Kohli hits out. Photograph: BCCI

Earlier, Maxwell finally came good with an attacking 56 after skipper Kohli's second consecutive half-century, taking Royal Challengers Bangalore to 165/6.
 
Kohli, who completed 10,000 runs in T20 cricket, scored 51 off 42 balls with three fours and three sixes but it was Maxwell who made the difference a 37-ball blitzkrieg before Jasprit Bumrah brought MI back in the game.

Maxwell's innings had six fours and three sixes as he showed true destructive potential with switch hits, lap shots and flicks during the final overs when he launched into MI pacers Adam Milne (1/48 in 4 overs) and Bumrah (3/26 in 4 overs) with utter disdain.

IMAGE: Mumbai Indians pacer Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after taking the wicket of AB de Villiers. Photograph: BCCI

Bumrah brought Mumbai back as he removed both Maxwell and AB de villiers (11) off successive deliveries, in the 19th over.

The normally dependable Devdutt Padikkal (0) had an off-day as he was caught behind off Jasprit Bumrah.

Kohli found a confident partner in Srikar Bharat (32 off 24 balls) as they quickly added 68 runs for the second wicket to boost RCB's total in the middle overs.