IPL 2017: Match 34:RPS vs RCB: Clinical Bangalore restrict Pune to 157/3

Pune, April 29: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) restricted Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) to a moderate total of 157/3 in 20 overs in the match 34 of IPL 2017.

Opener Rahul Tripathi gave Pune a steady start as he scored 37 off 28 balls. Captain Steve Smith and Manoj Tiwary scored 45 and 44 respectively to take the score to a respectable 157.

RPS failed to maintain a healthy run rate mostly due to a brilliant bowling performance from RCB.

Earlier, RCB captain Virat Kohli had won the toss and elected to field first against RPS in the match 34 of IPL 2017.

Home side RPS are currently placed fourth in the points table with 8 points from 8 matches, while the visitors RCB are struggling at the second last position with just 5 points from 9 matches.

It is a must win match for the men in red as yet another defeat will virtually shatter their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.

Pune too will be



eyeing a win and continue their good form. A win would take them further up in the table keeping them in a comfortable position in the race for playoffs.

Bangalore have made 3 changes in their starting XI. Star player Chris Gayle has been dropped from the squad and Adam Milne replaces him. Sachin Baby replaces Aniket Choudhary and Stuart Binny comes in for Mandeep Singh.

For Pune, Lockie Ferguson comes in place of Faf du Plessis and Deepak Chahar replaces Shardul Thakur.

Squads

Rising Pune Supergiant: Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, Steve Smith (captain), MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Manoj Tiwary, Daniel Christian, Washington Sundar, Lockie Ferguson, Jaydev Unadkat, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (captain), Travis Head, AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav (wicketkeeper), Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Pawan Negi, Adam Milne, Samuel Badree, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sreenath Arvind