END OF OVER:
20 | 16 Runs | RCB: 166/3 | RR: 8.30

  • Srikar Bharat78 (52b)
  • Glenn Maxwell51 (33b)
  • Avesh Khan4-0-31-0
  • Anrich Nortje4-0-24-2

That's all from the league stage of IPL 2021. When we see you day after tomorrow, it will be the first qualifier: between today's losers Delhi Capitals and second-place Chennai Super Kings. A terrific game today to finish proceedings. On behalf of Chandan, Thilak, Karthik and Himanshu, this is Sreshth saying goodbye.

Srikar Bharat is the Player of the Match. He says, "It was great winning on the last ball. It was an incredible feeling to finish it off. Maxwell and I were communicating in the centre well. At any point, I wasn't nervous at all. Tried to stay in the present and was looking for the opportunity in the last ball after the wide. I work on my batting against spinners. I don't believe in anything coming for free, so I work hard for it."

Virat Kohli, winning captain: "Unbelievable. It was a game we had nothing to lose but still to lose early wickets and do well against a team at the top of the table is good. We've beaten them twice this season. We knew bowlers had potential to keep things under control. The way AB and KS first batted was good. And then the partnership between Maxi and KS was amazing. We knew the reality of making second was a 163-run win, so we chose to field first. Pulling off a chase gives you a different kind of confidence going into a playoff. And we haven't chased much in the tournament, so its also important to do well batting second. You should be able to pull out anything you need on the day of the game. No. 3 hasn't been an issue at all. We wanted to give Christian some time with the bat. He was batting very well in the nets, but that's how T20 cricket goes. We took that chance, it didn't come off, but we had no issues. Bharat has given some good knocks and we knew he can step in at No. 3, bat well against spin too. I definitely think we need to be sharper in the field. We need to take the 50-50 opportunities in our way. Those runs are crucial in big games. When it comes to the playoffs, no team will give you a second chance."

Sumanth: "No Kohli, ABD or DDP firing, and yet RCB win with 7 wickets left! This is looking really good for RCB!"

AB de Villiers: "Very happy that the boys went across the line. Much needed momentum before the knockouts. We haven't always had the best of starts in the powerplay, but today we bowled well to Prithvi and Dhawan. It showed once again that there is a lot of character in the bowling unit. I'm feeling good. Not a lot of batting opportunities but I'm striking it hard. We need to up it a notch in the knockouts. We are close to our best cricket."

vikram Kunjappa: "Why isn't the presentation been showed?Yesterday match is broadcasting.Would have loved to hear bharat had to say." -- Stick around! We'll bring you all the words very shortly.

The presentation.

Rishabh Pant, losing captain: "We know how important fielding is in T20s. If you field the way we did, you deserve to lose. We also lost too many wickets while batting. But we will have to field better next time, I guess. It was difficult for the fast bowlers with the dew, but the fielding has to support the bowling unit. We are not feeling great because you want to win these kind of matches."

itzME: "How about Maxwell taking 2 and trusting Bharat to hit six for a win rather than himself for super over. "

SpiderCam: "Avesh Khan can be forgiven for lack of international exposure. But Axar Patel has been around enough. When 8 runs were needed in 2 balls, to misfield like that is criminal"

fahim mohammed: "Good learning for Avesh !!!"

Kumar: "While others are upset about missed no ball call or fielding errosrs I am just amazed and enjoying the emotions, happiness, and smiles exhibited by the RCB players screaming in to the field to celebrate! Raw emotions!"

9.40pm That wide ball from Avesh gave RCB a glimmer of hope, and Bharat has grabbed it with both hands. Maxwell hugs him, Kohli can't believe it in the pavillion. The RCB boys run out to congratulate Bharat on the effort.

RCB enter the playoffs on a winning note, and the manner in which they have won will give them some psychological boost entering the knockout. The Capitals will be disappointed on not getting the win, especially after getting Padikkal, Kohli and de Villiers early. But the imperious Maxwell and the dogged Bharat had some other plans. The Capitals will also be disappointed with their fielding effort.

Rahul Ghadge: "Wow what a match... Reminds me of Last Ball 6 from another RCB wicketkeeper Arun Kartik..." -- Oh, the Champions League T20 game!
Akram: "That shockingly casual misfield from Axar in the penultimate delivery has cost DC the game. "

Rahul: "DC have been cheated against, that chest high ball to Hetmyer was surely a no ball"

Aravind: "That final over and the last ball had the Nidahas Trophy final written all over it. Fitting that a wicket keeper batsman finished it off in style for the chasing team"

19.6
6
Avesh Khan to Bharat, SIX, glory shot! Srikar Bharat has done the semi-impossible. Full toss on middle. Bharat goes right into his crease, and then smacks it over the bowler's head. Long on is getting under it, but then sees it soar over his head! Royal Challengers Bangalore win by seven wickets after Avesh bowls a terrible last ball

Now 4 gives a super over. Avesh to load up again.

19.6
1w
Avesh Khan to Bharat, 1 wide, full toss down the leg side. Bharat misses any connection, and they get one free run

Six to win. Bharat on strike. Avesh with another yorker?

Nimesh: "It was a tactical decision to take DRS despite being clearly not out. That gave Khan a breather. "

19.5
2
Avesh Khan to Bharat, 2 runs, yorker, just outside off. Bharat digs it away to midwicket, and they come back for two after Axar misfields

Boundary is a must this ball. Or atleast two.

19.4
0
Avesh Khan to Bharat, no run, top ball. Full and wide, but inside the tramlines. Bharat looks for a straight loft over Avesh but makes zero contact
19.3
1lb
Avesh Khan to Maxwell, 1 leg bye, yorker length, around leg stump. Maxwell clears the front leg to access the on-side but the ball goes under the bat. Hits the boot, but its definitely going down leg. Pant reviews the lbw shout even though this is not out
19.2
2
Avesh Khan to Maxwell, 2 runs, good length outside off stump. Picks the lack of pace early, and pulled along the ground to deep midwicket for two. Another fifty for Maxi
19.1
4
Avesh Khan to Maxwell, FOUR, full outside off. Clears the front leg, goes low, and then hits a flat-batted swat over mid off for four!

Final six balls. RCB need 15. With the number of wickets in hand, RCB would be disappointed if they don't finish this game with a W

END OF OVER:
19 | 4 Runs | RCB: 150/3 (15 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.89, RRR: 15.00)

  • Srikar Bharat70 (49b)
  • Glenn Maxwell45 (30b)
  • Anrich Nortje4-0-24-2
  • Avesh Khan3-0-16-0
18.6
0
Nortje to Bharat, no run, full toss, wide outside off. Opportunity for Bharat to club a cut through the off side but misses. Top over from Nortje!
18.5
1
Nortje to Maxwell, 1 run, quick ball, back of a length outside off. Maxwell walks across to the offside to pull, but mistimed. Ball rolls away to square leg
18.4
1
Nortje to Bharat, 1 run, yorker length outside off. Dug away to cover. Only one, bringing Maxwell back on strike
18.3
1
Nortje to Maxwell, 1 run, good length outside off. Angling into Maxi, and swiped along the ground to deep midwicket
18.2
0
Nortje to Maxwell, no run, good length outside off stump. and dug away to midwicket's left
18.1
1
Nortje to Bharat, 1 run, full on off stump. Slaps a drive to cover, but intercepted

RCB have the advantage. They need 19 off the final two.

SuGP: "This chase by RCB is gonna give CSK hope for Sunday's game."

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs | RCB: 146/3 (19 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.11, RRR: 9.50)

  • Glenn Maxwell43 (27b)
  • Srikar Bharat68 (46b)
  • Avesh Khan3-0-16-0
  • Kagiso Rabada4-0-37-0

Prithvi: "@Mahesh. So true. Vihari and Bharath from Andhra. Siraj from Hyderabad. So so good to see these guys in Indian team."

17.6
4
Avesh Khan to Maxwell, FOUR, top edged over the keeper! Back of a length on off. Backs away to cut over point. Streaky shot for four
17.5
1
Avesh Khan to Bharat, 1 run, good length outside off. Swipes it to midwicket's right for a single
17.4
2
Avesh Khan to Bharat, 2 runs, full on off stump. Goes deep in his crease and tries to slog a six over long on. In the air, but falls short of the man in the deep
17.3
2
Avesh Khan to Bharat, 2 runs, yorker attempted. Ends up as an overpitched delivery. Driven to long off for a single past the bowler

Mahesh: "So happy to see a player from Andhra performing so well in IPL. Bharat is an inspiration to many in Andhra Pradesh, come on Bharat."

17.2
2
Avesh Khan to Bharat, 2 runs, full on off. Looks to nudge a shot to cover. Inside edged past the stumps to fine leg for a double

Srihari: "It seems Virat has listened to all those who were complaining about RCB making too many changes all the time. No changes for 3 games."

17.1
1
Avesh Khan to Maxwell, 1 run, full on off stump. Tucks it square to deep backward square leg for a single

END OF OVER:
17 | 15 Runs | RCB: 134/3 (31 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.88, RRR: 10.33)

  • Glenn Maxwell38 (25b)
  • Srikar Bharat61 (42b)
  • Kagiso Rabada4-0-37-0
  • Ripal Patel3-0-22-0
16.6
1
Rabada to Maxwell, 1 run, full outside off, and driven to long on for a single
16.5
1
Rabada to Bharat, 1 run, good length outside off, and pushed to cover for a quick single
16.4
6
Rabada to Bharat, SIX, good length, on off stump. Goes deep in his crease and picks the cutter early. Pulled in front of square to deep midwicket for six!
16.3
2
Rabada to Bharat, 2 runs, full and wide outside off. Looks to play the cover drive but it is sliced over point.
16.2
1
Rabada to Maxwell, 1 run, slower ball. Full and wide. Mistimed shot to cover's right
16.1
4
Rabada to Maxwell, FOUR, full on off stump. Flicked behind square, using his wrists beautifully to place the shot to fine leg!

Hus Silverado : "Bharat definitely deserves some credit for his outstanding form in UAE..He's been rock solid at No.3 and his keeping has been brilliant too !!!" -- Yes, he's been promising. We could've seen the whole gamut of shots he has this season, but RCB went with Christian at No. 3 for a few games. This is a much better balance.

RCB 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st3V KohliD Padikkal
2nd3V KohliKS Bharat
3rd49AB de VilliersKS Bharat
4th111GJ MaxwellKS Bharat