Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green stumble again in $5m Aussie cricket flop in IPL

Glenn Maxwell may have gotten two wickets, but he and Cameron Green once again failed to fire with the bat for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL on Monday night. RCB had Virat Kohli to thank after the Indian superstar made 77 off 49 to lead his side to a four-wicket victory over Punjab Kings.

The Kings batted first and made 6-176, with Maxwell claiming the key wickets of Shikhar Darwan (45) and Prabhsimran Singh (25). But the Aussie all-rounder isn't really paid $2 million for his bowling.

Maxwell earned his contract with RCB for his swashbuckling batting skills, which he hasn't really shown so far this tournament. He made just three off five balls on Monday, after suffering a golden duck in RCB's first-up loss to Chennai Super Kings last week.

And it wasn't much better for Green, who is earning $3 million. After making 18 against Chennai, the Aussie also fell for three off five balls on Monday.

Green was also whacked for 19 runs off his two overs against Punjab without picking up a wicket. Maxwell fared better with the ball, taking 2-29 off three overs.

But the Aussie star said he's prefer not to bowl at all. "I'd rather not bowl, I'm quite enjoying just being a batter," he said while mic'd up to the commentary team. "That's why we've paid for Cam Green, to be the all-rounder."

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 delivery brought the breakthrough RCB needed as Prabhsimran top-edged and was caught by wicket-keeper Anuj Rawat. Maxwell complained that wearing the tech meant he felt like he was "wearing a corset for the first time playing cricket - and it was horrible", then got Kings skipper Shikhar Dawan to apply the breaks on the Kings' innings.

Virat Kohli leads Royal Challengers Bangalore to IPL victory

RCB were surprisingly subdued in their chase of the modest target. But Kohli made his 51st half-century in the IPL to set them on their way.

RCB were up against it when Harshal Patel had Kohli caught by Harpreet Brar for 77, leaving RCB 5-130. But they eventually got over the line with three balls to spare for their first win of the tournament.

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Jonny Bairstow was cursing his luck after dropping Kohli at slip, costing countryman Sam Curran a wicket. The ball went for four instead, and so did three of Curran's next four deliveries.

RCB, who lost their opening match to Chennai, had Dinesh Karthik to thanks for some violent hitting to get them over the line. The 38-year-old, who is a regular commentator on Indian TV, showed he's still got it by thumping 28 off 10 balls, including two sixes, at the death.

Mahipal Lomror was unbeaten on 17 off eight balls at the end. He and Karthik smacked 48 runs off the last 18 deliveries to get their side home.

with AAP