Dinesh Karthik and Glenn Maxwell scored magnificent half centuries as The Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated the Delhi Capitals by 16 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
After being asked to bat first by DC skipper, RCB got off to a poor start as Anuj Rawat (0) was trapped leg-before by Shardul Thakur for a first ball duck.
Faf du Plessis’ poor run with the bat continued as he slashed at a Khaleel Ahmed delivery to Harshal Patel at deep point for 8.
Virat Kohli looked in fine touch being being run out by a brilliant piece of fielding by Lalit Yadav for 12.
Maxwell along with Suyash Prabhudessai added 35 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter mistimed a reverse pull off Axar Patel to Kuldeep Yadav at point.
The Australian all rounder after scoring a fine 55, was caught at long on by Lalit off Kuldeep.
Dinesh Karthik along with Ahmed resurrected the innings with a superb unbeaten 97 run stand for the sixth wicket to propel RCB to a mammoth score of 189/5 in their 20 overs.
Chasing 190, openers Prithvi Shaw and David Warner got Delhi off to a fantastic start. The pair put on 50 runs for the opening wicket before the former perished to Mohammed Siraj for 16.
Warner along with Mitchell Marsh put on 44 runs for the second wicket before Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva broke the stand by dismissing the former leg before wicket, while attempting a switch hit for a dazzling 38 ball-66.
Delhi were in further trouble as they lost wickets of Mitchell Marsh, Rovman Powell and Lalit Yadav in quick succession, reducing them to 115/5.
Mohammed Siraj dented the Capitals hopes by snaring Rishabh Pant, who fell to a brilliant one-handed catch by Virat Kohli at covers for a quickfire 34 off 17 balls.
With 34 needed off 12 balls, Josh Hazlewood claimed his third wicket by sending back to Shardul Thakur, top edging a pull to wicket keeper Karthik, who took a fine catch.
The Capitals in the end were restricted to 173/7 in 20 overs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore 189 for 5 (Karthik 66*, Maxwell 55, Thakur 1-27) beat Delhi Capitals 173 for 7 (Warner 66, Pant 34, Hazlewood 3-28) by 16 runs