ABU DHABI // Did the Bangalore Royal Challengers misread the conditions at the Zayed Cricket Stadium?
They arrived at the ground shortly before their game in Abu Dhabi against the Rajasthan Royals and, after being sent in, their batsmen fell like nine pins. They were all out for 70 inside 15 overs – the lowest score in the IPL this season and the third-lowest of all time – to record a humiliating six-wicket defeat.
“You would have to probably ask the coaching staff about that one,” Mitchell Starc said when asked if coming straight to Abu Dhabi without having a feel of the conditions was the reason for the below-par performance.
“You have to weigh up the travel days, I guess. We are based in Dubai and had fantastic facilities there to train. We can’t blame the conditions for our collapse.”
Two wickets in the first over to Stuart Binny and two wickets for Kane Richardson in the third over left Bangalore reeling with their top order gone and just five runs on the board.
Yogesh Takawale was first to depart to a catch behind by Sanju Samson, who was in the action again next ball to take a throw from Ajinkya Rahane and run out Parthiv Patel, which left Bangalore two wickets down for one run.
Yuvraj Singh went fishing in the third over to an outswinging Richardson delivery for Steve Smith to snap him up at second slip and AB de Villiers played on from the next ball to have Bangalore four down with little hope of a recovery.
“It is Twenty20 cricket and unfortunately these things are going to happen at some point through the tournament,” Starc said.
“Today wasn’t our day. We don’t have to think too much because we have a game in two days, which is probably the great thing about this tournament. So, you’ve got to get on with it.
“It is important to acknowledge where we went wrong, but at the same time, we have to get it out of our mind as quickly as we can.”
Big-hitting Chris Gayle is yet to make an appearance for Bangalore because of a back injury. Starc said the West Indian batsman could make the difference.
“Chris is a fantastic player and when he does come and be involved in the IPL soon I’m sure he would do a great job for us,” he said.
“But we’ve definitely got the guys in the squad to make up for not having Chris there. We have a fantastic batting line-up and a fantastic bowling line-up and, with or without Chris, we have got a good team.
“So, when Chris does get involved, it will be fantastic. But it is not to say that we don’t have the firepower.”
Pravin Tambe, 42, the veteran leg spinner who ran through the rest of the Bangalore batting, including the prized scalp of top scorer Virat Kohli (21), to return with four for 20 from four overs, said they can take plenty of confidence from the win.
“To beat a good side like Bangalore, that will bring a lot of confidence to the camp,” he said. “We got a few quick wickets within the six overs and we were on top, and we kept that pressure on throughout the game. So, it feels good.”
Rajasthan lost three wickets for five runs in their chase after a quick start from the openers Rahane (23) and Karun Nair (8).
The captain Shane Watson (24) was the fourth man out with two runs needed, but a Rajasthan victory was never in doubt.
apassela@thenational.ae
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