Bengaluru, Apr 18 (UNI) A spectacular late onslaught by Tim David saved Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) the blushes after a top-order meltdown, helping them reach 95 for 9 in 14 overs against Punjab Kings in a rain-truncated IPL contest at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday.
Sent in to bat, RCB collapsed to 42 for 7 within nine overs, undone by incisive spells from Arshdeep Singh (2/23), Marco Jansen (2/10), and Harpreet Brar (2/25). However, David's blazing unbeaten 50 off 26 balls, studded with five fours and three towering sixes in the final over, salvaged some pride for the hosts.
Punjab's pace spearhead Arshdeep set the tone early, removing Philip Salt (4) and Virat Kohli (1) within three overs. Kohli's attempted pull off a rising delivery found Jansen at mid-on after a valiant running catch. Liam Livingstone (4) followed soon after, holing out off Xavier Bartlett (1/26), who bowled with lively pace and variation.
Captain Rajat Patidar tried to resist with a brisk 23 (18 balls, 1x4, 1x6), but a misjudged loft off Yuzvendra Chahal (2/11) ended his stay, caught by Bartlett at long-off. Jitesh Sharma (2) and Krunal Pandya (1) fell in similar fashion, the latter undone by a sharp short ball from Jansen that lobbed off the helmet and glove for a return catch.
As wickets kept tumbling, David held firm. The Australian power-hitter launched a spirited assault in the final two overs, beginning with two successive boundaries off Bartlett and then taking on Harpreet Brar in the 14th. David smashed three consecutive sixes, the last off a no-ball, and brought up his fifty with a heave to deep mid-wicket—drawing a standing ovation from the spectators and his dressing room.
Brar, who had just struck twice in two balls by dismissing Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8) and Yash Dayal (0), was denied a hat-trick as David counter-attacked in style.
The innings ended with Josh Hazlewood (0 not out) merely a spectator, while Suyash Sharma remained unused.
RCB’s tally of 95 may seem underwhelming, but considering they were 42 for 7 at one stage, it is a testament to David's character and clean hitting. The powerplay yielded a modest 33/5, highlighting Punjab’s complete stranglehold. UNI BDN SSP