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De Kock, Mayank punish wasteful RCB

Mohammed Rumman Khan | NT

Bengaluru: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured a convincing 28-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their IPL match, thanks to Quinton de Kock's composed half-century and the dynamic performance of Mayank Yadav (3/14).

Quinton De Kock's impressive innings of 81 runs off 56 balls, combined with Nicholas Pooran's unbeaten 40 off 21 balls, formed the backbone of Lucknow's total score of 181 for five.

RCB, aiming for a turnaround, faced disappointment as they succumbed to defeat against LSG.

This isn't to downplay the team led by Faf du Plessis, who himself is facing challenges in scoring big runs.

However, there are doubts about the team's ability to consistently deliver top-notch performances.

Despite this, Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, and Cameron Green, who form the core of RCB's batting lineup, have managed to compensate for the team's shaky start.

Green fell victim to Mayank's sheer pace as the delivery slightly straightened after pitching on a good length, causing his off-stump to be disturbed.RCB suffered due to missed catches, which proved costly.

Dropping catches of key players like QdK, who was at 25-30, and Nicholas Pooran, who was at 2, could have resulted in an additional 60-65 runs.

Such errors can have significant consequences for a team in the IPL. The batting struggles of RCB's senior players have had a ripple effect on their bowling unit. Mohammed Siraj is a prime example of this.

As the team's lead pacer, Siraj has only managed to take two wickets in three matches while conceding 10 runs per over. It's imperative for him to raise his performance levels without delay.

Siraj's inability to strike early in the Power Play has deprived RCB of crucial breakthroughs, a task he accomplished consistently during IPL 2023.

Mayank's fiery performance, clinching three wickets for just 14 runs (3/14), ultimately led to the hosts being dismissed for 153.

At the young age of 21, showcased remarkable speed and talent by reaching a stunning speed of 156.7 kph (97.3 mph) in this match.

Undoubtedly, he emerges as a promising prospect for the future and a valuable asset for India.

Kohli, the 15th player to participate in 100 matches at a single venue in men's T20s, didn't make much impact on the match.

RCB opted for three swing bowlers in their XI for this match on a grassy surface, but it was Glenn Maxwell who initially made the breakthrough. However, he couldn't disrupt the LSG bowlers further.

The same pattern continues for RCB, who appear disorganized and demoralized, arguably.

Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 181 for 5 (De Kock 81, Pooran 40*, Maxwell 2-23) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 153 (Lomror 33, Mayank 3-14, Naveen 2-25) by 28 runs