Highlights, IPL 2019, Match 49: Match called off due to rain; Bangalore, Rajasthan settle for a draw

Live IPL Cricket Score, RCB vs RR, Match 49 Live from Bengaluru: What an anti-climatic finish to this rain-marred affair. Bangalore went ballistic at the start when Kohli and de Villiers opened and scored 23 runs off the first over, but post that, it all went downhill. Gopal's hat-trick really derailed them and eventually, the home side only finished with 62 on the board. In response, Rajasthan paced the chase well with Samson and Livingstone finding the fence comfortably without taking much risk. When 23 runs were needed in 12 balls, Chahal came on and got rid of Samson. And just when we thought things could get interesting, the rain decided to make an appearance again and the game had to be called off, as we had no more time left for any more breaks.

Match Called off due to Rain. RCB, RR settle for a point each

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals match abandoned due to rain. Both teams share a point each. 

00.23 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal to Sanju Samson, OUT! Samson is gone. Chahal provides the breakthrough for his side, like he does so often. Slows this up and lands it on a driving length outside off, it turns away as Samson looks to go big down the ground. It goes off the outside edge and skies towards point, where Negi comes under the ball and catches it safely.

00.21 IST: FOUR! Edged and four! Lucky for Samson and RR get a lifeline. We've seen enough of this in this game, the edges will fly and most likely go away. 18 runs off the over, massive for Rajasthan. Length ball outside off, Samson goes after it without any foot movement and gets a thick edge. It goes through the vacant slip cordon and away to the third man boundary. RR 40/0 in 3 overs

00.20 IST: SIX! One of the sweetest timers of the ball. Incredible hit. Khejroliya makes the mistake of providing pace on the ball, bowls it full and around off, Samson's eyes light up as he comes forward and bangs it straight back over the long on fence. Maximum. RR 36/0 in 2.5 overs

00.17 IST: SIX! Smashed away. Khejroliya is welcomed in fine style by Samson. A length ball on middle and off, Sanju plants his front foot forward and gives this the full swing of his bat. It's right off the meat and away she goes over the cow corner. RR 28/0 in 2.1 overs

00.14 IST: Navdeep Saini to Liam Livingstone, Dropped! But what an effort from Heinrich Klaasen. He's done exceptionally well to even get his hand to it. Full toss outside off, Livingstone tries to loft it over covers but doesn't get enough elevation. Klaasen there moves to his right, dives full stretch with a leap and gets his right hand to it. The ball just doesn't stick. He doesn't catch it, but saves a sureshot boundary. The batsmen only manage a single.

00.12 IST: Saini to Liam, SIX! He's mistimed that but such is the pace on the ball and the power of the batsman that it's cleared the rope. Wow. Short ball in line of the stumps, Livingstone throws his front leg out of the way and hammers it over long on for half a dozen. 10 runs off the first 2 balls. 43 runs to win now off 22 balls. RR 20/0 in 1.2 overs

00.11 IST: Saini to Liam, FOUR! Over the midwicket and sails away for a boundary. That's clubbed away. Almost a tennis-like shot. Back of a length into the body, Livingstone adjusts slightly inside the crease and muscles it over mid-wicket. Nobody out there in the deep, so it will run away to the boundary line. RR 14/0 in 1.1 overs

00.10 IST: Umesh Yadav to Sanju Samson, Dot ball. Sanju clubs this as it skids off the surface, towards mid on. Livingstone takes off but is met with a loud NO from his partner. He gets back in his crease in time.

00.07 IST: Umesh to Sanju, FOUR! Brilliant. Incredible placement. Finds the gap well here. Samson uses the angle into him, it's on a length, and brings those strong wrists of his into play. Whips it through backward square leg for a boundary.

RR 10/0 in 0.3 overs

00.06 IST: Umesh to Sanju, SIX! Smashed into the second stand! That's not such a bad delivery, but what a shot from Sanju Samson. He's an amazing talent. Length ball on middle, Samson just swings hard across the line from inside the crease. Times the ball perfectly as he sends it sailing deep into the mid-wicket stands. RR 6/0 in 0.2 overs

00.05 IST: Umesh Yadav handed the ball. Sanju Samson is out along with Liam Livingstone. Let's get started.

* That began like a whirlwind and ended really meekly for Bangalore. After bludgeoning 35 runs in the first 9 balls of the innings, the hosts completely lost their way courtesy a Shreyas Gopal hat-trick. The procession never stopped thereforth and they ended up adding just 27 runs more to their total in the last 21 balls of their innings. Rajasthan will be mighty pleased and look favorites to chase this down at a required run rate of 12.6 in a 5-over game!

23.58 IST: Royal Challengers Bangalore score 62/7 in rain-reduced 5 overs a side match vs Rajasthan Royals in Bengaluru. Gopal 3/12, Thomas 2/6

23.57 IST: Oshane Thomas to Pawan Negi, OUT! Edged and gone this time. Thomas angles across a length ball, it's around off, Negi looks to slog this over the leg side but nicks it behind. Sanju Samson moves to his left and takes a straightforward catch.

23.56 IST: Oshane Thomas to Pawan Negi, FOUR! Shouldn't come as a surprise anymore, a lot of edges will be seen today. Short ball on off, Negi looks to pull but the ball flies off the top edge and goes over the keeper's head for a boundary.

23.53 IST: Oshane Thomas to Heinrich Klaasen, OUT! Thomas gets a wicket to his name as well. Fuller length ball just outside off, Heinrich Klassen stays leg side as he tries to clear probably the cover region. Gets it off the top edge and towards Livingstone at deep point who runs in to his left and takes a very good catch.

23.53 IST: Oshane Thomas to Heinrich Klaasen, No ball! And it's going to be a Free Hit! Thomas oversteps and bowls a fuller length ball outside off, Klaasen aims to bang it down the ground but misses it altogether. Has a chance to redeem himself now though.

23.51 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Parthiv Patel, OUT! A soft dimissal in the end. Parthiv is dismissed while he attempts to play a cheeky shot. The slower one wide outside off, the left-hander moves a long way across his stick and plays the paddle scoop. Unfortunately for him, he hands a straightforward catch to Thomas positioned at short fine leg.

23.45 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Parthiv Patel, FOUR! One more top edge and one more boundary. The 50 comes up for Bangalore. Pace on the ball once again, a length ball around off, Patel swings across the line and gets it off the top edge over short fine leg's head. It's always going to the boundary after that.

* Jaydev Unadkat to bowl the penultimate over of the innings.

23.46 IST: Riyan Parag to Gurkeerat Singh Mann, OUT! Another Bangalore batsman down. Gurkeerat departs in search of the big hits. Shorter in length once again, too straight in line, the batter heaves it off the top edge over mid-wicket. Lomror out in the deep settles under the ball and gobbles it up.

23.41 IST: Riyan Parag to Gurkeerat Singh Mann, FOUR! Top edge and it's away! Shortish ball around leg, Gurkeerat looks to pull this away but the ball takes the top edge and flies over the keeper's head behind. No stopping that, it's a boundary.

23.39 IST: Shreyas Gopal to Marcus Stoinis, OUT! HAT-TRICK FOR SHREYAS GOPAL! He's turned the game on its head here. Unbelievable. Marcus Stoinis is out of here as well. Amazing bowling. This ball is given air and it's landed full on off, Stoinis hits it aerially and straight to Smith at mid off where he takes a sharp catch. First-ever Indian T20 League hat-trick for Shreyas Gopal. Superb work from the leggie from his side, after 23 runs were conceded in the first over. 12 did go in this one, but 3 crucial wickets came as well.

23.38 IST: Shreyas Gopal to AB de Villiers, OUT! Two in two for Gopal! Both the senior and experienced batsmen depart. The leg break around off, it turns away, de Villiers goes deep inside the line and swings. Gets a big top edge which balloons towards covers. Parag the man there and he makes no mistake in taking that. Could this be the point where Rajasthan can claw their way back into the game?

* Marcus Stoinis walks out to bat at number 3.

23.37 IST: Shreyas Gopal to Virat Kohli, OUT! Kohli holes out! Doesn't quite get it off the middle and hands it straight to the fielder. Loopy and full in line of the stumps, Kohli looks to go big downtown once more. Is unable to get underneath the ball cleanly and hits it flat to Livingstone at long on, who runs to his left and takes a good catch. The Bangalore skipper departs, but you could say he's done his job. Given his team a terrific start.

 

23.35 IST: FOUR! WOW! Ever seen the captain off to such a flyer! 

23.33 IST: SIX! Kohli is pumped! Showing no mercy here. This is exceptional batting from the senior pros of the side. Tossed up delivery on off, Kohli gets down on one knee and smokes it right off the middle over the long on boundary. RCB 29/0 in 1.1 overs

23.31 IST: FOUR! Over midwicket and one bounce boundary. 23 off the first over! This time he connects and connects well. 23 runs off the very first over, perfect start for Bangalore. Full and right in the slot, de Villiers clears his front leg and slogs it over mid-wicket, beating the man in the deep.

23.39 IST: FOUR! ABD off the mark in style. The runs keep flowing though for Bangalore. Good length delivery just around off, the batsman goes at it with hard hands and gets a thick edge which goes past short third man and finds the fence. RCB 17/0 in 0.4 overs

23.27 IST: SIX! Another one by Kohli, WOW! This has come in a rather streaky manner but he's not going to care. Fuller length delivery and outside off, at 144 clicks, Kohli backs away and throws his bat at it. It takes a thick edge and flies over the third man boundary. RCB 12/0 in 0.2 overs

23.26 IST: SIX! That's how RCB start the match and that's what Kohli does. A loud noise across the entire stadium. The Bangalore skipper dumps this into the stands. At 147 clicks, full and outside off, Kohli launches it over wide long off for a maximum. RCB 6/0 in 0.1 overs

23.24 IST: And we're ready for the action! AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli walk out to bat first. If it rained, you have witnessed nothing as it will be raining boundaries in Bengaluru. A smash session is underway. Let's get started.

23.12 IST: Rain reduces match to 5 overs-a-side. Play to begin at 11.26 PM, Royal Challengers Bangalore to bat first against Rajasthan Royals

23.00 IST: After a long inspection and a discussion of the umpires with the groundstaff, we are now hearing that there will be another inspection at 23 05 IST. There are a few wet patches on the pitch which need to be dried out soon. Let us see what awaits us in about 10 minutes.

22.20 IST: So the rain has stopped and the covers are being peeled off. Let's pray it doesn't start raining again, despite there being forecast of rain till around midnight.

22.06 IST: GOOD NEWS! So the rain has stopped and the covers are being peeled off. Let's pray it doesn't start raining again, despite their being forecast of rain till around midnight.

22.00 IST: No good news yet. The rain is pretty steady but the crowd is still waiting on, hopeful of some action at least. Let us hope for the best. The rain needs to stop at least by 23 00 IST local or thereabout to give enough time to the groundstaff to get the playing conditions ready.

21.30 IST: Just in case this match is washed out, Bangalore will be officially knocked out of the tournament. Also, an FYI - we have started to lose overs.

21.11 IST: BAD NEWS! Rain returns and it's pouring cats and dogs in Bengaluru. More updates coming it's way. We are in for further delay. Just in case this match is washed out, Bangalore will be officially knocked out of the tournament. Also, an FYI - we have started to lose overs.

21.00 IST: The rain has stopped. Covers have been removed and the super soppers are doing their job now. The umpires and players are having a look around. We can begin by 2115 local and have a full game! Let's hope action begins soon...

20.37 IST: It had stopped raining here for a bit but the drizzle is back again now. Not as heavy as before but still enough to keep the groundstaff away from trying to get to work.

20.30 IST: Good news comes its way! The rain is stopping and we might get full 20 overs. The officials are yet to confirm but we will get to see some action today in Bengaluru. 

20.00 IST: We are all set to begin. The Bangalore openers, Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli, make their way out to the middle. However, they have to turn back and run towards the pavilion as the clouds have opened up and it has started to rain and it is pouring down. Let us hope, we are in for a short delay.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing XI: Parthiv Patel(w), Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Heinrich Klaasen, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Marcus Stoinis, Pawan Negi, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kulwant Khejroliya, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals Playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Liam Livingstone, Sanju Samson(w), Steven Smith(c), Riyan Parag, Stuart Binny, Mahipal Lomror, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Varun Aaron, Oshane Thomas

19.35 IST: Royal Challengers Bangalore - Pawan Negi comes back, Kulwant makes his debut for Shivam Dube.

19.34 IST: Rajasthan have made one change to their XI - Mahipal Lormor comes in for Ashton Turner. 

19.30 IST: Rajasthan Royals win toss, opt to bowl against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru

19.00 IST: We're half an hour away from the TOSS! If you won the toss, what will you choose and why? The battle at Chinnaswamy is expected to be legendary.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today's clash as RCB host RR at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. The TOSS will take place at 7.30 PM IST while play will commence from 8.00 PM IST. 

Brief Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to give their forgettable campaign a semblance of respectability and dash Rajasthan Royals' faint playoffs hopes in the IPL on Tuesday. Rajasthan, with 10 points from 12 games, still have a theoretical chance to make it to the playoffs, provided they do not lose any of their remaining two matches. Also, they would require table-toppers Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals to defeat their respective opponents. (READ FULL PREVIEW HERE)