Rahul Tripathi scores first IPL 2018 fifty for Rajasthan Royals vs RCB

Rahul Tripathi scored a composed 38-ball fifty for Rajasthan Royals during their crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur on Saturday.

The decision to open the batting with Jofra Archer completely backfired for the hosts as the West Indies all-rounder was dismissed for a duck by Umesh Yadav. Archer wanted to smash a short delivery from Yadav over fine leg but ended up giving an easy catch to RCB wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel.

RR could have lost another wicket in the next over when Tripathi survived a close LBW call from Moeen Ali. RCB decided against reviewing the umpire’s decision but replays showed that the ball was hitting the leg stump. That proved to be quite costly for the visitors as Tripathi stitched together an impressive 99-run partnership with skipper Ajinkya Rahane to put RR in the driver’s seat.

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Tripathi made his intentions clear quite early as he slammed Moeen Ali for a huge six over backward square leg and then pulled Umesh Yadav through mid-wicket for a boundary. Yuzvendra Chahal also became a victim of Tripathi’s stroke play as he scored two consecutive boundaries off the spinner in the sixth over.

The run rate did drop after the end of the powerplay overs, but the duo kept the scorecard ticking with both players looking quite comfortable against the RCB bowlers. Tripathi finally brought up his third IPL fifty off 38 deliveries and on the very next ball, smashed Colin De Grandhomme for a six.