Every game is like semifinal for us now: RCB coach Andy Flower
Bengaluru, Apr 16: After his side's sixth defeat in seven matches in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower confessed that each of their remaining seven matches will have to be treated like a semifinal.
In the latest setback to their playoff aspirations, RCB went down by 25 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad here on Monday.
“It is obviously knockout time and every game is like a semifinal for us now. But we will have to think that we will come back stronger,” Flower said on RCB Game Day.
RCB conceded the highest-ever IPL total – 287 for three – as the Hyderabad batters went on a merry ride against their directionless bowlers.
Flower admitted that it was a tough night for his side.
“It was a really tough night in the field, of course, as they finished so powerfully that it probably took the wind out of our souls,” he said.
However, Flower found shards of positives during RCB’s chase such as Dinesh Karthik’s superlative 83 off 35 balls and skipper Faf Du Plessis’ 28-ball 62.
The Zimbabwean wanted to build on them in the coming matches.
“I am really proud of the way we fought with the bat out there in the middle. We lost the game but I was really proud of the way we fought,” said Flower.
The former England coach lauded Karthik for the way he took on SRH bowlers, and said it would not be surprising if the wicketkeeper batter made it to India’s T20 World Cup squad.
“Dinesh Karthik is really making a push for the World Cup team (of India) as well and is only getting better on the field,” he added.
RCB will next face Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on April 21.
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Ranchi: Temple guard bludgeoned to death during robbery attempt, 3 held
Ranchi (PTI): A 60-year-old security guard of a temple in Ranchi was bludgeoned to death with a stone during a robbery attempt, police said on Saturday.
The incident happened late on Thursday at the Jagannath Temple in the Dhurwa Smart City area, they said.
"Three persons were arrested on Friday for killing the security guard. They confessed to the crime and told police that the victim had identified them. Therefore, in fear of being caught, they killed him by attacking him with a stone on his head," SSP Rakesh Ranjan said.
"Thereafter, they took money from the donation box and fled the scene. Two of them have criminal antecedents," he added.
Ranjan said the investigators recovered Rs 3 lakh in cash that had been robbed, the stone with blood-stained marks, and the iron rod used to break open the lock of the donation box kept there.
An FIR in this regard was lodged at the Dhurwa police station, he said, adding that the accused were sent to judicial custody by a court.
