Maxwell chimes in with wickets as Kohli shines for RCB

Glenn Maxwell joked he didn't fancy bowling, but then took two vital Punjab wickets before Royal Challengers Bengaluru squeaked home with four balls to spare in their IPL clash overnight.

Mic'd up to the commentators in the second over of RCB's home game to the Kings, said of suggestions he might turn his arm over, "I'd rather not bowl, I'm quite enjoying just being a batter".

"That's why we've paid for Cam Green, to be the allrounder," he added with a smile.

Six overs later, after Green had been hit for 10 in his first over, Maxwell was thrown the ball. 

His first delivery went for four and his fourth for six, but his fifth brought the breakthrough RCB needed as Prabhsimran Singh top-edged and was caught by wicketkeeper Rawat for a 17-ball 25.

Maxwell, who'd complained that donning the tech meant he felt like he was "wearing a corset for the first time playing cricket – and it was horrible", subsequently dismissed Kings skipper Shikhar Dawan for a 37-ball 45, again putting the brakes on the visitors.

Kings scrapped and slogged their way to 6-176, Maxwell finishing with 2-29 off his three overs and Green 0-19 off two. 

Mohammed Siraj, with 2-26 off four, was RCB's best bowler, before the hosts made heavy weather of the target. 

They looked on course for victory while Virat Kohli was still in, but were up against it when Harshal Patel had him caught by Harpreet Brar for 77 (49), leaving RCB 5-130. 

It was Kohli's 51st IPL half-century.

There was an Ashes aspect to this contest with three Englishmen in the Kings XI, but Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran managed just 48 between them.

It didn't get better for the Englishmen on the field as Bairstow dropped Kohli at slip off Curran's second ball. 

That went for four and so did three of Curran's next four deliveries as Kohli took full advantage.

Green, in his second match since being traded from Mumbai Indians, came in at No.3 when Kagiso Rabada dismissed Faf du Plessis cheaply, but soon departed – caught behind swinging at Rabada for a six-ball three. 

It seemed an unnecessary exit as Kohli was sending the ball to all parts of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and Green could simply have given him the strike. 

That was not so much the case when Maxwell also went for three, chopping on, as by then the rate had begun to climb to 10-an-over.

RCB, who lost their opening match to Chennai Super Kings, were indebted to Dinesh Karthik for some brutal hitting to get them over the line.

The 38-year-old is a regular commentator on Indian TV but he showed he is able to more than just talk a good game, thumping 28 off 10 balls, including two sixes, as RCB reached 6-178, to win by four wickets in the final over.

Mahipal Lomror was also there at the close, unbeaten on 17 off eight balls, including one six. 

The pair smacked 48 runs off the last 18 balls for Bengaluru.

Punjab also have one win and one defeat from their two matches.

Australians in IPL 2024

Delhi Capitals: Mitch Marsh (A$1.2m), David Warner (A$1.16m), Jhye Richardson (A$890,000), Jake Fraser-McGurk (A$92,000)

Gujarat Titans: Spencer Johnson (A$1.78m), Matthew Wade (A$446,000)

Kolkata Knight Riders: Mitchell Starc (A$4.43m)

Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis (A$1.7m), Ashton Turner (A$178,000)

Mumbai Indians: Tim David (A$1.53m)

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis (A$135,000)

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Cameron Green (A$3.15m), Glenn Maxwell (A$2m)

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (A$3.67m), Travis Head (A$1.2m)

*Prices in AUD, conversions correct at time of auction