In a pulsating contest that noticed momentum swing like a pendulum, Rajasthan Royals held its nerve to cease Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s fairytale run with a four-wicket win within the Eliminator on the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
Electing to bowl, an outstanding efficiency by the skilled Trent Boult (4-0-16-1) and R. Ashwin (4-0-19-2) helped Royals prohibit RCB to 172 for eight.
Chasing a goal of 173, Royals began cautiously within the first two overs earlier than Yashasvi Jaiswal (45) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (20) hit a flurry of boundaries off Yash Dayal in a 46-run opening wicket partnership.
Sanju Samson pulled Swapnil Singh for a six, and Jaiswal hit two extra boundaries as RR moved into a robust place, scoring 27 runs within the two overs after the PowerPlay.
However, RCB fought again, taking three fast wickets as Cameron Green bowled a tidy spell. But within the Aussie’s last over, issues unravelled for the Bengaluru facet as Riyan Parag (36) and Shimron Hetmyer (26) hit 17 runs within the sixteenth over. The duo joined forces when the match was within the stability at 112 for 4 and stitched a 45-run stand off 25 balls.
Mohammed Siraj gave RCB some hope by eradicating each batters earlier than Rovman Powell calmed nerves with an unbeaten 16 to information Royals right into a Qualifier 2 conflict in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Friday.
Earlier, left-arm pacer Boult’s expertise got here to the fore as he swung the ball into the right-handed openers — Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis — and tied them down in a razor-sharp first spell (3-0-6-1).
However, runs flowed freely from the opposite finish as Kohli appeared ominous, taking over the pacers Sandeep Sharma and Avesh Khan and hitting them down the bottom.
Kohli continued his regal march, stroking two boundaries off Sandeep to assist RCB end the PowerPlay at 50 for one. But in opposition to the run of play, Yuzvendra Chahal eliminated Kohli, who slog-swept straight to midwicket.
Ashwin placed on a spin masterclass and turned the sport on his head in a spell throughout which he didn’t concede a single boundary. The 37-year-old introduced his variation into play, mixing off-breaks and carrom balls, and stored Green and Rajat Patidar quiet. In his last over, Ashwin put his facet within the driver’s seat, eradicating Green and Glenn Maxwell off consecutive deliveries – each have been caught within the deep – as RCB slipped to 97 for 4 within the thirteenth. Patidar, who was dropped on 5, bought the innings again on monitor, scoring a quickfire 34. He discovered assist from Mahipal Lomror, who stroked a 17-ball 32. But Avesh (three for 44) returned strongly in his last over – the penultimate of the innings – to take away Dinesh Karthik and Lomror to disclaim RCB the ultimate flourish, which proved expensive in the long run.
SCOREBOARD
ROYAL CHALLENGERS
Virat Kohli c (sub) Ferreira b Chahal 33 (24b, 3×4, 1×6), Faf du Plessis c Powell b Boult 17 (14b, 2×4, 1×6), Cameron Green c Powell b Ashwin 27 (21b, 2×4, 1x6), Rajat Patidar c Parag b Avesh 34 (22b, 2×4, 2×6), Glenn Maxwell c Jurel b Ashwin 0 (1b), Mahipal Lomror c Powell b Avesh 32 (17b, 2×4, 2×6), Dinesh Karthik c Jaiswal b Avesh 11 (13b, 1×4), Swapnil Singh (Impact Player rather than Patidar) (not out) 9 (4b, 1×6), Karn Sharma c Powell b Sandeep 5 (4b, 1×4); Extras (lb-2, w-2): 4; Total (for eight wkts. in 20 overs): 172.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-37 (du Plessis, 4.4 overs), 2-56 (Kohli, 7.2), 3-97 (Green, 12.3), 4-97 (Maxwell, 12.4), 5-122 (Patidar, 14.2), 6-154 (Karthik, 18.2), 7-159 (Lomror, 18.5), 8-172 (Karn, 19.6).
ROYALS BOWLING
Boult 4-0-16-1, Sandeep 4-0-48-1, Avesh 4-0-44-3, Ashwin 4-0-19-2, Chahal 4-0-43-1.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Yashasvi Jaiswal c Karthik b Green 45 (30b, 8×4), Tom Kohler-Cadmore b Ferguson 20 (15b, 4×4), Sanju Samson st. Karthik b Karn 17 (13b, 1×6), Riyan Parag b Siraj 36 (26b, 2×4, 2×6), Dhruv Jurel run out 8 (8b, 1×4), Shimron Hetmyer (Impact Player rather than Chahal) c du Plessis b Siraj 26 (14b, 3×4, 1×6), Rovman Powell (not out) 16 (8b, 2×4, 1×6), R. Ashwin (not out) 0 (0b); Extras (lb-1, w-5): 6; Total (for six wkts. in 19 overs): 174.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-46 (Kohler-Cadmore, 5.3), 2-81 (Jaiswal, 9.2), 3-86 (Samson, 9.6), 4-112 (Jurel, 13.1), 5-157 (Parag, 17.2), 6-160 (Hetmyer, 17.6).
RCB BOWLING
Swapnil 2-0-19-0, Siraj 4-0-33-2, Dayal 3-0-37-0, Ferguson 4-0-37-1, Karn 2-0-19-1, Green 4-0-28-1.
Toss: RR.
RR gained by 4 wickets with six balls to spare.
Source: www.thehindu.com
