Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad by 14 runs on Thursday, 17 May, to keep themselves in the running to make the play-offs. However, RCB’s Moeen Ali felt it was important for the entire team to contribute if they wanted to have a chance of making it through.
With this win RCB climbed up to the fifth spot with 12 points from 13 games and need to win their last league game against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Saturday to harbour any play-off hopes.
Massive momentum is needed in this game. We’re going to have to contribute if we have to go further to potentially get through to play-offs. We can’t always rely on two players (Virat and AB de Villiers). They’re amazing players but we have to chip in and do our bit, and win games for the team as well.Moeen Ali
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Axed from the England squad for the Tests against Pakistan, all-rounder Moeen Ali says his IPL stint will make him a better one-day player and improve his game.
"I have really worked on my game and I feel going further in the future for RCB and for England, hopefully it will help me become a better one-day player. Hopefully, it is going to improve my game," he told reporters.
Ali has been instrumental in keeping Royal Challengers Bangalore's chances of qualifying for play-offs intact. He picked up two wickets and in the company of AB de Villiers then, smashed a match-winning half century against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The English player hammered a 34-ball 65, which was studded with two boundaries and six sixes, to guide RCB to 218 for 6.
He credited RCB support staff, including Gary Kirsten and Trent Woodhill, for his improved batting.
"Yeah Gary and Trent Woodhill. I have worked the most with them on my batting. I am trying to hit the ball and be consistent in hitting boundaries. They have really opened my game and I feel going further for England, it will help me become a better ODI player and improve my game," he said.
AB de Villiers (69 off 39) and Ali (65 off 34) overcame a bad start to stitch together 107 runs off just 57 balls for the third wicket to not only set the platform for the RCB's total but also keep their team in contention. Playing in his first Indian Premier League, this was Ali’s maiden IPL half-century.
I wasn’t in great form coming here. It was nice to go out and express myself in the last game for the fans and for the team as well as my confidence and my team’s confidence in me.Moeen Ali
Pleased after being able to express himself with the bat, Ali hoped that his team's confidence gets a boost going ahead.
"It was almost nice to have a break. I wasn't in great form coming here. It is just nice to go out and express myself. And for my own confidence and the team's confidence in me. Hopefully, we can keep going and I can keep this form going," he added.
After managing a mere 179 runs and five wickets in the Ashes, Ali found himself out of the team for the second New Zealand Test, and then dropped for the Pakistan series.
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