Picture : IPL / X
Rajasthan Royals dashed Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s hopes of an IPL title as they beat them by 4 wickets in a Tata IPL 2024 Eliminator encounter at the Narendra Modi stadium.
Earlier, Rajasthan Royals Skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to field . Trent Boult was outstanding in the power play bowling three overs for 6 runs and took the wicket of RCB skipper Faf du Plessis brilliantly caught by Rovman Powell for 17 . Virat Kohli was deceived by Yuzvendra Chahal for 33 ( 24 balls , 3 fours , 1 six, during his knock he became the first batsman to reach 8000 runs in IPL ) . Cameron Green promoted to number 3 in the batting line -up scored 27 ( 21 balls , 2 fours , 1 six) .
Rajat Patidar dropped by Dhruv Jurel could not take advantage scoring 34 ( 22 balls , 2 fours, 2 sixes) , Glenn Maxwell played reckless shot out for 0 . Mahipal Lomror gave the power with 32 ( 17 balls , 2 fours , 2 sixes) ,
Dinesh Karthik ( 11) was plumb leg- before but third umpire ruled him not out. Replays showed ball hit pad first not bat . Royals Director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara was livid with the decision. Swapnil Singh was not out 9 as RCB finished at 172. 8 in their 20 overs
Royals Bowling Figures : Trent Boult 1/ 16 ( 4 overs) brilliant. Avesh Khan 3/ 44 ( 4 overs) , Sandeep Sharma 1/ 48 ( 4 overs) , Ravichandran Ashwin 2/ 19 ( 4 overs) was top class and tied the RCB batting. Yuzvendra Chahal 1/ 43 ( 4 overs) was tab bit expensive .
Chasing 173 , Royals were off to a flier racing to 46-1, 5.3 overs with openers – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tom Kohler-Cadmore ( who came in place of England Skipper Jos Buttler who returned home for national duty) . Tom Kohler-Cadmore was the first to fall for 20 ( 15 balls , 4 fours) , Yashasvi Jaiswal looked good for big one but got tired and fell for well- made 45 ( 30 balls , 8 fours) with Royals total at 81-2, 9.2 overs.
Royals were feeling the pressure as the big shots never came . Skipper Sanju Samson trying to increase the scoring was out stumped for 17 of Karn Sharma. Total 86/ 3 . Dhruv Jurel was the fourth wicket to fall, run-out due to a rocket throw by Virat kohli from the deep .
Riyan Parag was striking the ball well but fell for 36 ( 26 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) . Impact player Shimron Hetmyer hit some lusty shots and Royals needed him to finish but he holed out for 26 to Siraj . RR 160/ 6 . Opening up the game .
But West Indian T20 skipper Rovman Powell ensured Royals romp home by 4 wickets he hit the winning shot for six to seal the match. Powell remained not out 16 ( 8 balls, 2 fours, 1 six) along with Ravichandran Ashwin. Royals ending up 174/ 6 in 19 overs.
RCB bowling : Swapnil Singh 0/ 19 ( 2 overs) , Mohammed Siraj 2/ 33 ( 4 overs) , Yash Dayal 0/ 37 ( 3 overs) , Lockie Ferguson 1/ 37 ( 4 overs) , Karn Sharma 1/ 19 ( 2 overs) , Cameron Green 1/ 28 ( 4 overs)
Royals win dashed RCB’s hopes of an IPL title and the elusive search continues . Royals will now play the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai in the second Qualifier on May 24.
RR Impact Player: Shimron Hetmyer replaces Yuzvendra Chahal
RCB Impact Player: Swapnil Singh replaces Rajat Patidar
Match: IPL 2024, Eliminator
Venue: Ahmedabad | Date: May 22, 2024
