When Royal Challengers Bengaluru is in desperate need of a breakthrough, it turns to Josh Hazlewood. A four-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday showed the match-winning prowess of Hazlewood.

Having realised that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch offers extra bounce and carry from a hard length, a relentless Hazlewood honed in, playing a big part in RCB recording a first win at home this season.

His first victim came in the sixth over, when RR opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was going great guns. The southpaw opener had smashed his way to a 19-ball 49 and threatened to take the game away from RCB. A clever change of angle from around the wicket surprised Jaiswal, who lost shape and spooned a catch.

Hazlewood showed his magic once again in his second spell. RCB was in a tight spot, with RR needing 46 runs from the last four overs.

The Australian prized out Shimron Hetmyer and put RR on the back foot by conceding just six runs from the over.

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Hazlewood saved the best for last when he effectively sealed the game by dismissing last hope Dhruv Jorel and Jofra Archer in a brilliant 19th over.

RCB head coach and former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower showered praise on the “world-class bowler”.

“Hazlewood’s last two overs went for seven runs, and he took three wickets. He’s a class operator, a world-class bowler. He is great under pressure in any format of the game. He thinks clearly and he’s got great skill,” Flower said in the post-match press conference.

He’s known for his heavy length bowling, but he has great all-round skills. He mixes in yorkers, wide yorkers, slower balls… He knows what type of ball to bowl at the right time.”