#TATAIPL-2024-ELIMINATOR : Rajasthan Royals Dash Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Title Dreams With A 4-Wicket Win ; To Meet SRH In Second Qualifier

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