Rajasthan Royals broke their run of five consecutive defeats as they stunned the Royal Challengers Bangalore with a thrilling four-wicket victory in the IPL 2024 Eliminator played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday after successfully chasing a target of 173.
This win brings an end to RCB's outstanding comeback streak, where they won six consecutive games after being at the bottom of the points table. The Royals will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 in Chennai, with the winner set to play Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on Sunday.
A disciplined bowling performance from Avesh Khan (3-44) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-19) restricted RCB to 172/8. Yashasvi Jaiswal led the chase with 45 runs, supported by Riyan Parag (36), Shimron Hetmyer (26), and Rovman Powell (16 not out), guiding RR to victory in 19 overs.
Jaiswal, who had an early life when Cameron Green dropped a tough chance, capitalized by hitting three fours in the following over bowled by Yash Dayal. He, along with Tom Kohler-Cadmore, took boundaries off Mohammed Siraj. Kohler-Cadmore also had a reprieve when Glenn Maxwell dropped him, allowing him to hit two fours off Dayal before being bowled by Lockie Ferguson with a slower yorker in the last over of the Power-play.
Jaiswal and Sanju Samson added three boundaries off Swapnil Singh, but Jaiswal was dismissed attempting a scoop shot that edged to the keeper off Green. Samson was stumped in the next over, missing a wide delivery from Karn Sharma. Virat Kohli’s excellent throw from deep square leg ran out Dhruv Jurel, adding to RCB's celebrations.
Hetmyer calmed nerves with a six off Green, followed by Parag's elegant inside-out six over cover and a ramp shot for four. Efforts of Hetmyer and Parag brought the equation down to 19 needed from 18 balls. Parag was bowled by Siraj for 36; Hetmyer was caught off a leading edge soon after, adding tension to the chase.
With 13 runs required from 12 balls, Powell hit consecutive fours off Ferguson and finished the match with a lofted shot down the ground, securing RR’s place in Qualifier 2 while ending RCB's season.
Earlier, Trent Boult’s economical opening spell and Ashwin’s brilliant bowling restricted RCB. Boult kept things tight with early swing, and despite Kohli and du Plessis’s efforts, he got du Plessis out with a low catch by Powell. Kohli’s attempt to slog-sweep Chahal ended in a catch at deep mid-wicket.
Green and Rajat Patidar tried to revive RCB’s innings but fell to Ashwin in the same over. Avesh Khan then took crucial wickets, including Patidar and Dinesh Karthik, who failed to replicate his previous heroics. Mahipal Lomror hit a quick 32 before becoming Avesh’s third wicket, and Sandeep Sharma claimed Karn Sharma on the last ball, leaving RCB at 172, which proved insufficient against RR’s determined chase.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 172/8 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 34, Virat Kohli 33; Avesh Khan 3-44, Ravichandran Ashwin 2-19) lost to Rajasthan Royals 174/6 in 19 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 45, Riyan Parag 36; Mohammed Siraj 2-33, Karn Sharma 1-19) by four wickets
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