RCB go top, CSK lose again

Royal Challengers Bangalore went top of the Indian Premier League after a narrow two-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday evening.

It was a match of twists and turns as RCB posted 213 for five after CSK had won the toss and elected to field first. This was thanks mainly to a storming 14-ball half-century from West Indian Romario Shephard at the back-end of the innings.

The home side were off to a barn-storming start with openers Jacob Bethell (55) and Virat Kholi (62) giving Rajat Patidar’s men an opening stand of 97 from just 59 balls. Kholi smashed five boundaries and as many sixes from just 33 balls while Bethell managed eight fours and two maximums from as many balls.

However, it was Matheesha Pathirana (4-0-36-3) who broke the camel’s back, removing Bethell, who launched a ball high into the night sky only to be caught by South African Dewald Brevis. Devdutt Padikkal (17) and Patidar (11) both fell victim to Pathirana, while Sam Curran (3-0-34-1) removed the dangerous Kholi, having the Indian stalwart caught at backward point by Khaleel Ahmed.

In Dayal we believe. ✊ pic.twitter.com/fncOVfpnwt

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 3, 2025

It seemed that when Jitesh Sharma departed for just seven, RCB had handed Chennai a massive advantage. However, Shephard came in and made the difference as he cracked four boundaries and six massive sixes to end unbeaten on 53 from only 14 balls to give the home side a slight advantage going into the break.

Chennai made a good start in pursuit of 214, with Ayush Mhatre (94) and Shaik Rasheed (14) adding 51 from 27 balls for the first wicket. However, Krunal Pandya (3-0-24-1) had Rasheed caught by Shephard at backward point, with Lungi Ngidi (4-0-30-3) having Curran edging behind to Sharma for just five.

But Mhatre, who struck nine boundaries and five maximums from only 48 balls, and Ravindra Jadeja (77 not out) put Chennai onto the path of victory with a third-wicket stand of 114 from 64 balls before a rush of blood saw the back of Mhatre.

A slower ball from Ngidi saw Mhatre swing hard across the line, only to launch the ball towards deep mid-wicket, where Pandya waited patiently for the ball to arrive in his hands. Brevis was dismissed very next ball, trapped in front by Ngidi, before MS Dhoni was sent packing after a review, trapped in front by Tash Dayal (4-0-41-1).

With Jadeja seemingly stagnant at the non-striker's end with eight fours and two sixes, it was impact player Shivam Dube who almost took Chennai across the line. With CSK needing 13 runs from the final six balls, Dayal conceded just two singles and claimed the wicket of Dhoni to leave CSK needing 11 from the final three balls.

However, Dube struck his first ball for six, which was then referred for a waist-high no-ball, but Dayal kept his cool and saw out the over, handing RCB a narrow victory to send Patidar’s men top of the log.