ends with a sixer! But it doesn't matter for RCB. Full outside off, and Cutting slogs this over long off to finish the game on a semi-high. Royal Challengers Bangalore win by 14 runs!
RCB vs MI, 31st match at Bengaluru, May 01 2018 - Ball by Ball Commentary
11.53pm That's all from us from Bengaluru. Royal Challengers Bangalore move to fifth on the points table, sandwiched between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. That makes the mid-table clutter very interesting with the second-half of the IPL well and truly on. Hope you enjoyed ESPNcricinfo's coverage of the IPL. On behalf of Deiva Muthu, this is Sreshth Shah, signing off. See you tomorrow for match 32.
11.47pm Time for the presentation. A long list of dignitaries (like always) on stage.
Virat Kohli, the winning captain: "Jeez, we needed that win. Such an important stage of the tournament. We all believe in the changing room that this was the push we needed. Important two points. Just told the bowlers, to back their gut. Take ownership of your field, your plans, and own it. Siraj, Colin, Southee were excellent. Umesh, Chahal everyone bowled well. The one over that JP Duminy bowled and Manan targeted (for 22 runs) took the game away from them. We needed impact performances and that's what happened. My wife (Anushka Sharma) is here and it's her birthday, so happy that she could see us win. Happy to earn the two points in front of her."
Tim Southee, the Man of the Match. Says: "Nice to play, and find that win on the board. We came close for a few, good to go over the line. We knew that if we continue taking wickets then we'll have it. Colin's last over (with the bat) gave us momentum going into the second innings. The belief about qualification is still strong in the group."
Meanwhile, football fans in the Indian subcontinent can head to ESPN.in to stream the second leg of the Champions League semifinal between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The match kicks off at 12.15 AM IST. Click here.
Mihir: "An important lesson will be learned by RCB after this victory that they need not require a single player to play exceptionally well. With a proper team game like today, they won't have to be dependent on the likes of Kohli and ABD."
11.37pm A masterclass in death-bowling from Tim Southee, but how important was that final over bowled by McClenaghan in the first innings. He went for 24 that over, and that was the difference between the two sides tonight. Virat Kohli's a very happy man, but Mumbai Indians now need to win all their games to be ensured of qualification. It's going to be difficult for them now. Some reactions...
Rohit Sharma, the losing captain: disappointing to be on the losing side. Didn't play smart cricket and losing wickets in the Powerplay doesn't help. Wasn't an easy wicket and we failed to keep the scoreboard ticking. Credit to RCB bowlers, kept us guessing all the time. We would've taken 167 at the start of the day, but we could've restricted them for 10-15 runs less. Brendon and Virat's knock was critical. We keep making those silly mistakes, which really shouldn't happen. Only ourselves to blame. I think we can still qualify to the Playoffs. We can't lose hope."
Imran Sk: "Someone pointed out at the beginning of the game that Rohit would say "we could have restricted them by 10-15 runs" and that's exactly what he said, good prediction :)" -- Hardik Toke, I hope you're visiting the lotto tonight.
Sumanth: "De Grandhomme - the silent MOM of the game! Batting, bowling and fielding - he did everything today."
Anirudh: "Been yearning for Southee since the very first game of RCB this season. I commented on cricinfo once, and got to know that he isn't in India yet. Finally, he's in the eleven, and scripted this important victory. I would like to believe that RCB could have been placed higher in the table, had Tim been in the eleven."
Brendon McCullum: We've been close last few games, so today was important to get across the line. Something to give the fans. We bowled well last game as well, but today was outstanding. Umesh was outstanding and Southee at the end as well. The structure of our bowling is finally getting together. There is a huge amount of skill required to bowl in the death, so our guys were good with the cross-seamers and the slower balls. We wanted to stick together and play a good brand of cricket. Hopefully the results are going to follow. We're going one game at a time."
excellent yorker! Ricochets it onto his toes while trying to squeeze this out
back of a length outside off, but Southee takes the pace off it. Pulled to cow corner, but these are consolation runs
RCB flags flying high
full outside off, and the expansive drive takes the inside edge. Goes to square leg
full outside off, and Cutting drags the slog towards the leg side. Deceived by the slower ball, but enough power behind that shot to beat deep midwicket
Is that the game?! Full on off, and Hardik drills it straight to long on. Dives forward and takes an excellent tumbling catch. What a change in attitude though. Kohli took a similar catch two nights ago, but didn't show any emotion that evening. Today he's ecstatic
Mumbai need 25 off the final over.
knee-high full toss outside off, and Cutting muscles a pull to cow corner. De Grandhomme saves some more runs in the deep with a sliding effort
full outside off, and all Hardik can do is muscle a drive to wide long off. His 2nd IPL fifty
full and wide outside off, and Hardik can't connect with the drive. Through to QDK on the full. Excellent ball given the game situation
that defied the laws of Physics! Full on leg stump, and Krunal got down on one knee to ramp it over fine leg. Takes the leading edge, and goes to...wait for it...point.
yorker just outside off, and Hardik does well to squeeze it past Krunal. But where's his bat?! It flew off his gloves and landed near the keeper. Sweaty evening
full toss on leg stump, and Krunal can't put it away. Hits his front leg as they scamper across for the run. Another run added to the extras. They're reviewing . Where's the impact?! Oh wow, it's an inside edge. Excellent from umpire Erasmus, who had given it a run in the first place anyway
Mumbai need 30 off two overs
slower ball outside off, and Krunal lifts this inside out over cover. Deep extra cover does well to race across and intercept
experience showing here! Yorker on middle stump, and all Krunal can do is dig it back to the bowler
yorker on middle stump, and Hardik does well to squeeze it down the ground. Kohli at long on
slower ball, on a good length on off stump. Mistimes his pull down the ground to long on
de Grandhomme saves a certain four! Great sliding effort at long off. The full ball was crunched past Southee, but his fellow New Zealander saves RCB three
slower ball, on off stump. It's angling across his body, but Krunal's leg-side heave is mistimed. Goes to long off instead
Mumbai need 35 off 18 balls. Here's Southee
Sunny: "Remember who's next to come, Ben Cutting, the man who cost RCB the title 2 years ago..."
sliced inside out! Full outside off, and that's been muscled over the infield. Too much for wide long off to do
sagar roy: "Pathan brothers match happened at srilanka home" -- ah, right. my bad.
full toss on middle stump, and Krunal's leg-side push doesn't come off. Appeal for lbw by Siraj, but Erasmus thinks that was bat first. Yep, he's spot on
Over 20 • MI 153/7