5 memorable moments from the RPS-RCB match that don't fade away

It is hardly believable when the batting line-up of the Royal Challengers Bangalore fades away for less than 100 runs once. However, when the same thing happens twice, it is just insanity. For the second time in this year’s IPL, the team from Bangalore were decimated for under 100.

Asking the Pune Supergiant to bat first, the Bangalore bowlers restricted them to a decent score of 157. In response, the batting order of the Challengers was royally tormented by the bowlers of the Pune franchise. In the end, they could only manage a score of 98 after playing out their 20 overs.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017: Rising Pune Supergiant vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Player Ratings

Here are 5 memorable moments from the match that don't fade away, quite like the Axe Signature range of body perfumes.

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#1 Rahul Tripathi shows promise

The first time is always the hardest for cricketers. Making an impression as quickly as possible is the need of the hour since there is no guarantee that the said player will ever get a second chance. And that is precisely what Rahul Tripathi is doing right now.

This is his first season in the Indian Premier League and he has fared amazingly well so far. Tripathi continued his fine form, scoring 37 runs from only 28 balls, an innings that gave his team the start they required to put up a fighting score of 157.

#2 Smith plays a captain’s knock

Steve Smith played yet another sublime innings

Last year was a dreadful year for the Rising Pune Supergiant as they failed to make it to the top four under the stewardship of MS Dhoni. This year, however, things are looking much better under new captain Steven Smith.

Since being named the captain, he has played like a true leader. The Australian superstar played yet another great innings to help his team put up a score of 157. His innings of 45 runs came from only 32 balls, where he hit five boundaries and one six.

#3 Virat Kohli’s brave attempt

Kohli fought until the end

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have one of the most star-studded batting line-ups in the Indian Premier League. Hence, when the whole team perished for only 49 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders, many considered it a fluke on KKR’s behalf.

However, the Challengers could have repeated that infamous incident had it not been for captain Kohli’s brave knock. While no other batsman could score more than 7 runs, Virat Kohli played a brave innings of 55 runs from 48 balls. This came at a time of terrible adversity and hence deserves a lot of praise.

#4 Tahir’s Tandava

Tahir ripped apart RCB’s lower middle order

‘Tandava’ is a form of dance that causes destruction to the surroundings – and Imran Tahir’s bowling did the Tandava dance today. The South African leg-spinner wreaked havoc on the Royal Challengers batsmen as he totally ripped apart their lower middle order.

With 3 wickets in his 4 overs, while giving away only 18 runs, Tahir is now the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 scalps to his name. With this, he is the highest wicket-taker, thus far, among spinners in this year’s IPL.

#5 Lockie Ferguson devastates the Challengers

Lockie Ferguson picked up the wicket of de Villiers

A star-studded batting line-up like that of the Royal Challengers Bangalore always instils fear in the hearts of the bowlers. The likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli are perhaps the two best batsmen in the game and both of them play for the same team.

However, Lockie Ferguson’s divine performance completely shattered the spine of the Challengers’ batting line-up as he took the wickets of de Villiers and Stuart Binny while giving away only seven runs. He ended up with figures of 4-1-7-2, something that is rarely seen in T20 cricket.