 The Highveld Lions will meet the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match
No. 18 of the Airtel Champions League at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The game is a virtual quarterfinal and the winner will join the South Australia
Redbacks in the semi finals. The Lions are in second spot and the Royal Challengers
are in the fourth spot, but the Bangalore Royal Challengers have a better
run rate.
Click for Live Score Card of Highveld Lions Vs Bangalore Royal Challengers
The Royal Challengers find themselves in this position due to the two games
that they lost against the Redbacks and the Mumbai Indians. It was a one sided
game against the Redbacks as the Royal Challengers were bundled out for 154
and the Redbacks chased it down with relative ease. However, it was the game
against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday that would hurt the Challengers.
RCB lost the game by just two runs, after coming so close to the target through
a fantastic knock from Virat Kohli. He looked distraught after he was
dismissed off the last ball of the game, after playing a wonderful innings of
47 from just 24 balls. Their bowling let them down in both the games. They allowed
the Redbacks' openers to get to a good start which virtually sealed the game
for them. In the game against the Mumbai Indians, they allowed the Indians'
lower order to score some vital runs that took the score past 160.
The Lions have not been hyped and have gone on with their job in a quiet manner.
Their first game upset of the Mumbai Indians has helped them greatly and a massive
win against a poor Guyana side has helped their net run rate too. Alviro Petersen, like a few other captains, has led the side well and has also
contributed with the bat at the top of the order.
Richard Cameron was in great form against Guyana but facing the Royal Challengers
bowling attack is a different proposition altogether. Anil Kumble might
have been expensive against the Mumbai Indians but his variations in pace and
the bounce he gets on the South African tracks will be tough to face. Dale Steyn
bowled at the end of the innings at the end of the innings but will return to
bowl with the new ball in this game.
The Lions bowling has been good so far. They restricted the Mumbai Indians in
their first game and completely dominated Guyana in the last game. They have
to be at their best if they want to stop this Royal Challengers side, which
has a host of players who are match winners.
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