Captain Faf du Plessis hit a top score of 44 to guide Royal Challengers Bangalore to an 18-run victory against Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League match on Monday.

Kyle Mayers was dismissed for a duck by Bangalore pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj on the second ball of the chase, and Lucknow quickly fell to 38-5 with Virat Kohli taking two excellent catches.

Nicholas Pooran, who was on nine, and Marcus Stoinis, who was on thirteen, both fell to Karn Sharma’s leg-spin, and the innings saw two run outs, giving the impression that Lucknow’s batsmen were rushing to score runs.

KL Rahul, the captain of Lucknow, appeared to hurt his thigh while fielding, hobbled away, and then came into the batting last.

Josh Hazlewood, an Australian fast bowler, made his first appearance in the IPL this year and recorded figures of 2-15 from his three overs.

Bangalore, which is still looking for their first IPL championship, rose to fifth place in the 10-team standings after winning five of their last nine games. Lucknow fell to third place.

Du Plessis, who had previously played as a batsman in the team’s previous matches captained by Kohli, helped Bangalore win with a performance that stood out in an otherwise lacklustre performance by the star-studded lineup.

Despite a rocky beginning, Du Plessis and Kohli added 62 runs for the first wicket, but none of the other batsmen could withstand the Lucknow bowlers’ challenge.

Amit Mishra and Ravi Bishnoi, both spinners, each claimed two wickets, while Naveen-ul-Haq, an Afghan fast bowler, recorded figures of 3-30.

Bishnoi took down Kohli, stumped for 31, and Glenn Maxwell, lbw for four, with his leg-spin and soon Mishra and Naveen joined forces in an innings which was interrupted by a brief spell of rain.

Du Plessis, who reclaimed the top spot in the batting charts with 466 runs after overtaking Yashasvi Jaiswal (428) of Rajasthan Royals, attempted to hold the innings but fell to Mishra.