Too easy. RCB won the toss, chose to bowl first, and produced a masterclass on a two-paced pitch to dismiss LSG for 146. All of their bowlers were on point, led by Hazlewood and Rasikh. And then Kohli gave them a quick start to the chase to extinguish any hope LSG may have had of defending a below-par target.

KumarS: "What an amazing NRR bump! from 1.148 to 1.503!! This will go a long way for RCB to help secure the number 1 spot if NRR comes to play"

Nicholas Pooran: Tough season for us, we were below par, 175 would have been competitive, we have been struggling with the bat ... It's T20 cricket, tough game, tough to stay consistent, guys have been working hard, it's a matter of time, have to stay patient and take the opportunity when it comes. I'm feeling really good, stroking the ball nicely but it hasn't gone my way. I've been in this situation before and confident I can do it.

Virat Kohli takes the Orange Cap: Much better than the last game, still not 100%, knee was sore last game, even health wise I was under the weather for the last four five days, happy with my intensity ... wanted to take the game head on. Should have finished that game off as well. Not enough grass on the pitch, slower than normal, last few days have been very hot ... it was different ... the idea was to take the game away from the opposition in the powerplay. Happy with my approach today.

I'll have the presentation for you shortly.

Rajat Patidar: Fantastic bowling, the way the fast bowlers hit the deck was nice. Krunal is a very courageous bowler, Suyash also ...For a captain, having a specialist like Bhuvi makes my job a lot easier. From the start, RCB has worked a lot on fielding ... today's was an easier catch for Salt. Long way to go, we're taking it one game at a time.

The Player of the Match is Josh Hazlewood for taking 1 for 20 in four overs: Felt much better today, in good shape. Got to look at who you are playing against, conditions play a part, slow wicket today, just had to whack that length ... I'd like to have a few funky deliveries ... always working on them slower balls ... keep moving forward. Summing up the conditions as early as we can is a huge plus for us. The plan is hopefully to keep playing, the schedule is pretty good here on, so I should be okay to keep playing.

So RCB are on top of the points table, level with Rajasthan Royals on eight points but ahead on NRR, which got a massive boost with the margin of victory tonight.

Thank you for all your emails over the course of this game, we'll be back tomorrow for MI vs PBKS at the Wankhede Stadium. Until then, good night!

15.1
4
Linde to Shepherd, FOUR, that's the game! Shepherd seals victory for RCB by going back and cutting a short ball to the backward point boundary. RCB are on top of the points table, having crushed LSG by five wickets and 29 balls to spare to seal their fourth win in five matches this season

END OF OVER:
15 | 9 Runs | RCB: 145/5 (2 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 9.66, RRR: 0.40)

  • Romario Shepherd10 (7b)
  • Tim David14 (8b)
  • Avesh Khan4-0-23-2
  • Digvesh Rathi4-0-51-0
14.6
1
Avesh Khan to Shepherd, 1 run, full ball on off stump, driven to long off for a single
14.5
6
Avesh Khan to Shepherd, SIX, slower ball disappears into the crowd beyond long on! Shepherd into the act too, stepping forward and across to drag a length ball from outside off and hammer it with so much power
14.4
1
Avesh Khan to David, 1 run, fuller length around off stump, David drills the ball down to long off with a powerful drive along the ground
14.3
1
Avesh Khan to Shepherd, 1 run, length ball outside off, punched off the back foot behind point
14.2
0
Avesh Khan to Shepherd, no run, pushed to cover point, Shepherd wants one but there's hesitation between the wickets, and a fumble in the field too
14.1
0
Avesh Khan to Shepherd, no run, played into the covers

END OF OVER:
14 | 13 Runs | RCB: 136/5 (11 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 9.71, RRR: 1.83)

  • Tim David13 (7b)
  • Romario Shepherd2 (2b)
  • Digvesh Rathi4-0-51-0
  • Prince Yadav3-0-32-3
13.6
4
Rathi to David, FOUR, cut really hard to the backward point boundary where the fielder sprints to his left and dives but can't save the boundary
13.5
2
Rathi to David, 2 runs, oh dear, the relay catch has been messed up on the cow corner boundary! David launched the ball high into the night sky but not far enough, Samad ran to his left on the cow corner boundary and took the catch on the run ... the momentum was taking him over the boundary and so he tossed the ball to Markram, who had run to his left from long on, but he ended up tossing it too far away from Markram for him to complete the catch ...Markram did not seem to be too switched on either

Meanwhile, there's huge breaking news for Indian sport, as R Vaishali has become the first Indian in 15 years to qualify for the women's chess world championship match. This is how she achieved her shot at history.

13.4
6
Rathi to David, SIX, he's swiped hard at that, so hard that it's flown flat and far over the extra cover boundary, hammered it from inside his crease with immense power
13.3
0
Rathi to David, no run, tries to play on the leg side but misses and is hit on the pad
13.2
0
Rathi to David, no run, nudged off the pads towards mid on, the fielder at midwicket runs across to pick up, David sends Shepherd back

Sanket: "I think the only teams that can stop RCB from winning again are Punjab and RR. Yes this is too early to say but this RCB teams look like the best batting unit of the tournament because they are not only destructive but also brings lot of consistency. The batters like Patidar, Virat, Jitesh are very good against both pace and spin, bowling also looks very good. The important change is also in the attitude this season, they are playing like a champion side."

13.1
1
Rathi to Shepherd, 1 run, googly pitching outside off and spinning in from a good length, David stays back and punches into the off side

Shivang: "Is Pant keeping?" No, he's not on the field after getting hit on the elbow by Hazlewood while batting.

END OF OVER:
13 | 8 Runs 2 Wkts | RCB: 123/5 (24 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 9.46, RRR: 3.42)

  • Tim David1 (2b)
  • Romario Shepherd1 (1b)
  • Prince Yadav3-0-32-3
  • Digvesh Rathi3-0-38-0
12.6
0
Prince Yadav to David, no run, yorker on middle to end the over, David digs it out towards cover

Joker : "The story of RCB batting so far: if you are relieved that Patidar is out, then you need to dread the next batsman, Tim David."

Aditya : "Any reason why Rathi doesn't seem as good as he was last season. He hasn't even been economical this season. Second season blues?" It's been known to happen.

12.5
1
Prince Yadav to Shepherd, 1 run, moves back and across and nudges the length ball off the pads behind square leg

Romario Shepherd is the new batter ...

12.4
W
Prince Yadav to Sharma, OUT, is that an edge? It is! Two wickets in three balls for Prince as RCB are trying to rush to victory ... Jitesh clears his front foot and swings across the line at a good length ball over off and middle stump, thin edge through to Mukul behind the stumps

JM Sharma c Choudhary b Prince Yadav 23 (13m 9b 2x4 2x6) SR: 255.55

AJ: "LSG seriously needs to shake things up. They are doing the same thing and expecting different results. Samad and Pooran needs to go. Pant should clear up his mind and go back to the old destructive Pant which made him what he is today. "

12.3
1
Prince Yadav to David, 1 run, looks to play on the off side but gets an inside edge on the leg side

Tim David.

RCB 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st9V KohliPD Salt
2nd57V KohliD Padikkal
3rd20V KohliRM Patidar
4th35JM SharmaRM Patidar
5th1JM SharmaTH David
6th27R ShepherdTH David