IPL 7: Steve Smith, James Faulkner Spoil Party For Royal Challengers Bangalore, Yuvraj Singh

Steve Smith and James Faulkner stole the thunder from Yuvraj Singh as Rajasthan Royals came back from nowhere to record a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In an incredible power-hitting show, Steven Smith and James Faulkner rattled up a match-winning 85-run stand from no where as Rajasthan Royals pulled off a stunning five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Chasing a daunting 191 to win, Rajasthan were staring down the barrel after losing five wickets for 106 runs in the 14th over but Smith (48 off 21) and Faulkner (41 off 17) combined well to find boundary after boundary.

In complete mayhem, the Australian duo scored the last 65 runs off just 17 balls to not only secure the win with seven balls to spare but also steal the thunder from Yuvraj Singh, who had roared back to form with a strokeful 83 and followed it up with four wickets.

It all started in the 17th over as Faulkner creamed two fours and a six off fellow Australian Mitchel Starc. Smith began the next over, bowled by Ashoke Dinda, with a six and two shots to the fence. Faulkner then finished it off quickly in the 19th over, punishing Varun Aaron with two sixes and a four, stunning the RCB camp and the home fans.

With this win, Rajasthan have strengthened their position in the top-four although they remained in third position with 10 points. RCB are still at sixth place with six points. Bangalore owed their big total to Yuvraj and AB de Villiers (58) as they shared a magnificent 132-run stand, which powered RCB to 190 for five after electing to bat.

(NDTV)