‘We didn’t capitalize in the last five overs’ – RCB skipper Faf du Plessis analyses team’s performance after loss against MI

FAF du Plessis (Photo Source: Twitter)

After losing to Mumbai Indians in an important match, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis was disappointed with his team’s batting performance in the last five overs of their innings, which made them settle down to 199 runs from a stage where it looked like they would easily post a total over 220.

Keeping in mind the form that the Mumbai Indians batters have shown in the previous games when they chased down totals of over 200, this score was never going to be of any problem. So was the case, as MI came out all guns blazing as they made a mockery of the run chase and cruised to the target of 200 with 21 balls to spare.

In the post-match presentation, Faf said:

“I think we were at least 20 runs short, in the context of the wicket. They are a strong chasing team and they bat deep. We didn’t capitalize in the last five overs, disappointed due to the lack of runs in those five overs.”

The RCB skipper even appreciated the batting efforts of Suryakumar Yadav whose knock of 83 runs off just 35 balls pretty much sealed the deal for the host. The star Indian batter, along with Nehal Wadhera, stitched an invaluable partnership of 140 runs in just 66 deliveries, smashing the ball all around the park and ensuring that MI didn’t lose the game.

“He (Suryakumar Yadav) is one of the best, when he gets going, it’s difficult to shut him down. Siraj has been fantastic in the first half of IPL. He got away with it for a long time, but the guys are going to come out and play positively,” he added.

RCB fail to restrict MI in the chase

After being asked to bat first by Mumbai Indians, RCB posted a total of 199/6 in their allotted 20 overs with useful contributions from Glenn Maxwell (68 runs off 33 balls) as well as captain Faf (65 runs off 41 balls). In reply to the target of 200, MI started off positively on the back of Ishan Kishan’s power hitting as the wicketkeeper-batter ensured that his side got off to a good start.

Suryakumar also joined the party as he played an innings of 83 runs off just 35 balls. Nehal Wadhera hit the winning runs for MI with a score of 52* in 34 balls to put curtains on RCB’s hopes. Suryakumar also won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant efforts with the bat. It is to be noted that with this win MI have climbed to the third spot and RCB have slipped to the seventh position.