Maxwell fifty guides Bangalore to big win over Rajasthan

Glenn Maxwell of Royal Challengers Bangalore plays a shot during the Indian Premier League match against the Rajasthan Royals at the Dubai International Stadium yesterday. (Sportzpics for IPL)

Glenn Maxwell hit his second successive half-century to fire Royal Challengers Bangalore to a convincing seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in Dubai yesterday. The Australian batting all-rounder made an unbeaten 50 off 30 deliveries as Bangalore chased down their victory target of 150 in 17.1 overs in the Twenty20 tournament. Bowlers set up the team’s second straight win with paceman Harshal Patel taking three wickets and spinners Shahbaz Ahmed and Yuzvendra Chahal claiming two each to restrict Rajasthan to 149-9. Virat Kohli’s Bangalore stay third in the eight-team table, led by Chennai Super Kings, and eye a strong league finish in their bid for a maiden title. “We have come back strongly in two games back-to-back with the ball which is great,” said Kohli, who will step down as captain of the side at the end of this season. “It means we are heading in the right direction.” Kohli, who hit 25, and Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 22, started briskly for the opening wicket to lay the foundation for the chase. Srikar Bharat (44) and Maxwell put on a third-wicket stand of 69 to take the attack to the opposition bowlers despite Bangladesh left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman striking twice. Bharat fell short of his fifty but Maxwell, who made a match-winning 56 in the previous game, completed his 50 with two straight boundaries. Earlier, Royals collapsed from a comfortable 100-1 in 11 overs to 117-5 with debutant left-arm quick George Garton sending back Evin Lewis for 56 and Ahmed striking twice in his first over. Chahal also struck twice to return impressive figures of 2-18 from his four overs of leg spin and was named man of the match. Patel, who got a hat-trick in his team’s previous win, rattled the middle and lower order and struck on successive deliveries. Royals, winners of the inaugural edition in 2008, are seventh in the table.   “We don’t have anything to lose. That kind of mindset brings a lot of freedom, have seen some funny things happen,” said Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson. Meawhile, West Indies giant Kieron Pollard says getting to 300 wickets in Twenty20 cricket will remain special after he got Indian Premier League champions Mumbai Indians back to winning ways. Pollard took two key wickets and hit an unbeaten 15 off seven balls as Mumbai beat Punjab Kings by six wickets on Tuesday to revive their title defence. The 1.96 metre (6ft 5ins) all-rounder became the first player in history to achieve 300 wickets and 10,000 runs in T20 and said it should be an “important” boost for bowlers.  “Bowlers are a bit underrated,” Pollard said on hitting the landmark with his medium-pace bowling.  “For me you are just supposed to do what the team requires. As an individual, I know what I can do in all the facets of the game, and whenever I get the opportunity just try to do my best.” The West Indies limited overs captain sent back big-hitting T20 teammate Chris Gayle and then made Punjab captain K.L. Rahul 300th victim. “For me to get these wickets, I’ll take it each and every time”. He added, “I honestly admit don’t have pace, I don’t have spin, I don’t have swing, but I have a little bit of brain and I just try to use it to the best.” The 34-year-old has won five titles with Mumbai since he joined them in 2010. He is determined to keep playing and show his worth. “Age is catching up with me because (there are) young guys in the dressing room, so I have to continue to show them that, ‘listen, I still got it’,” he said. “So most of the time, it’s just to show these young guys what I can do.”Brief Scores Royal Challengers Bangalore 153/3 (Glenn Maxwell 50*; KS Bharat 44; Mustafizur Rahman 2) beat Rajasthan Royals 149/9 (Evin Lewis 58, Yashasvi Jaiswal 31; Harshal Patel 3.34) by seven wickets