At the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, the match unfolded as a test of endurance for the batsmen due to the challenging pitch conditions. Quinton de Kock emerged as the standout performer, notching up the sole half-century of the game with a blistering 81 runs off 56 deliveries. Nicholas Pooran’s explosive innings of 40 runs from just 21 balls, including five crucial sixes in the final two overs, propelled LSG to a competitive total of 181/5.

In response, the RCB batters struggled to find their footing on the unpredictable pitch, eventually succumbing to the opposition’s bowling attack and getting bundled out for 153 runs. Consequently, they suffered a defeat by a margin of 28 runs.

De Kock’s impressive fifty provides the backbone for LSG

Partnering with K L Rahul at the top, de Kock wasted no time in launching an assault, particularly targeting Reece Topley in the opening over. While Rahul watched from the non-striker’s end, de Kock unleashed an array of boundaries. His first six came off Mohammed Siraj’s delivery, effortlessly lofting a length ball over fine leg and into the stands at M Chinnaswamy stadium.

Maintaining his aggression, de Kock struck another maximum off Siraj, this time dispatching a length delivery over deep backward square leg. The opening pair of de Kock and Rahul put together 53 runs in just 33 balls, with de Kock being the more aggressive of the two, contributing 32 runs off 19 deliveries. With a strike rate of 114.64, de Kock’s innings of 81 off 56 balls featured eight boundaries and five sixes.

Mayank brings storm in match with his exceptional performances

Following his stellar debut against the Punjab Kings, the pacer continued his impressive form by wreaking havoc on the RCB batting lineup with his fiery pace.

Entering the attack in the sixth over, Mayank immediately made an impact by dismissing the dangerous Glenn Maxwell. Employing his signature weapon—a blistering bouncer clocked at 151 kph—Maxwell attempted a pull shot but was late, resulting in a simple catch for Nicholas Pooran at mid-on.

In his next over, Mayank produced another sensational delivery to dismiss the highly regarded Australian, Cameron Green. The ball beat Green’s outside edge and crashed into the top of off-stump as he played inside the line.

Consistently clocking speeds of 150-plus, Mayank unsettled the RCB batsmen with his express pace. His third victim, Rajat Patidar, fell to a top-edged pull shot caught at fine leg for 29, highlighting the batsman’s struggle to cope with Mayank’s pace.

Finishing with remarkable figures of 3/14 in four overs, Mayank achieved his second consecutive three-wicket haul in the tournament. Additionally, he set a new record for the fastest delivery in IPL 2024, clocking an astonishing 156.7 kph during the match.

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Pooran survived an early scare when he was dropped on just 2 runs by Anuj Rawat, and from there on, he unleashed an onslaught that Bengaluru won’t soon forget. Following his impactful 42 off 21 balls in LSG’s previous match against the Punjab Kings, Pooran escalated his aggression by smashing a whirlwind 40 runs off just 21 deliveries in this encounter, including five towering sixes in the last two overs, completely altering the game’s momentum.

Taking a particular liking to left-arm seamer Topley, Pooran launched three consecutive sixes off his bowling in the 19th over. And to add insult to injury, he targeted Siraj in the final over, dispatching him for two massive shots to propel the visitors to a formidable total.

With a scorching strike rate of 190.47, Pooran stunned the Bengaluru crowd with one boundary and five maximums. LSG’s last five overs proved to be the turning point, as they accumulated 50 runs, with 33 of those coming in the final two overs, featuring Pooran’s destructive hitting.

Fans were left in awe witnessing the remarkable performance by LSG, particularly Pooran’s explosive batting display and Mayank’s performance. As the match concluded, the spectators eagerly anticipated more such electrifying performances from the team in the upcoming games, setting high expectations for the rest of the tournament.