END OF OVER:20 | 23 Runs | RR: 169/3 | RR: 8.45
- Shimron Hetmyer42 (31b)
- Jos Buttler70 (47b)
- Akash Deep4-0-44-0
- Mohammed Siraj4-0-43-0
9.25pm: Royals found some chili oil to stir in at the end. Forty two runs from the last two overs, and that's given their bowlers something to defend. Jos Buttler played one of his more laboured innings, but still ended up with 70 from 47, and he's handed the orange cap for his troubles. Buttler put on 83 in 50 balls with Shimron Hetmyer, edging things towards RR at halfway: they are a 55% chance, according to Win Predictor. Don't go anywhere, Hemant will be back for the RCB chase shortly
Here's a word with Buttler: "[Pitch] Feels a little bit soft, seam went into the wicket at the start. Whether that changes with the dew, not sure. [Innings] Frustrating at times, you feel you need to kick on, but sometimes you've got to suck it up and try to get a few away at the end. We're in the game [with 169]. If conditions don't change, I back our bowlers to defend it."
"Extraordinary from Buttler..." gulps Vishwa. "67 Runs but no 4s"
Oh no... Deep has overstepped. Free hit coming
Last over, RR hoping to boost themselves up to 160. Akash Deep to bowl
END OF OVER:19 | 19 Runs | RR: 146/3 | RR: 7.68
- Jos Buttler55 (42b)
- Shimron Hetmyer35 (29b)
- Mohammed Siraj4-0-43-0
- Harshal Patel4-0-18-1
Here's Kiran Timilsena: "Buttler in recent said its about targetting that one over. Cheering for RR, lets just hope that over is yet to come today."
END OF OVER:18 | 9 Runs | RR: 127/3 | RR: 7.05
- Shimron Hetmyer28 (25b)
- Jos Buttler43 (40b)
- Harshal Patel4-0-18-1
- Mohammed Siraj3-0-24-0
"Buttler have just played 38 deliveries out of 102," notes Amiya. "That's astonishing." Now 40 out of 108
Buttler is up at the other end, shaking his head after that shot. Clearly something is amiss for the competition's leading run-scorer
Harshal Patel back on
Here's hard taskmaster Samuel: "Maybe they've not let Jos have much of the strike because he can't hit the ball off the square today, James L? Even on a tough pitch, 40 off 38 is disappointing."
END OF OVER:17 | 11 Runs | RR: 118/3 | RR: 6.94
- Shimron Hetmyer21 (21b)
- Jos Buttler41 (38b)
- Mohammed Siraj3-0-24-0
- Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-32-1
"Is there a chance of swimming pool today?" The theory is, Abhishek, that the anti-dew spray applied shortly before the start time is having an effect
"Is it really a sub 7 rpo pitch?" We'll find out, David Patterson. To be fair, these two don't usually need a second invite to go hard