In a thrilling encounter at the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Rajasthan Royals (RR) secured a decisive victory against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by four wickets, advancing to the Qualifier 2. The match took place at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, and was filled with riveting moments that tested the skill and composure of both sides. RR’s triumph sees them scheduled to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the next round at Chennai.
The toss fell in favor of RR, and their decision to field first set the stage for what turned out to be a masterclass in bowling. RCB, after being put into bat, appeared poised to post a formidable total, with several batsmen getting off to promising starts. However, none could capitalize and convert their innings into a substantial score; RR’s bowlers consistently broke key partnerships just as they began to flourish, effectively stalling RCB’s momentum throughout their innings.
Trent Boult led the charge for RR, delivering a stunning opening spell that saw him give away just six runs in three overs while claiming the crucial wicket of RCB captain Faf du Plessis for 17. Sandeep Sharma, who handled the second over, gave away 12 runs, offering RCB a brief respite. Meanwhile, Avesh Khan was introduced in the fourth over, only to be welcomed with a majestic pull shot for six by Virat Kohli. However, Boult again struck gold in the fifth over when he induced du Plessis into an attempted big shot over mid-wicket that was sensationally caught by Rovman Powell, diving forward into the deep.
Cameron Green was promoted up the order to No. 3, preceding Rajat Patidar. As the powerplay drew to a close, RCB were positioned at 50 for one. Yuzvendra Chahal was then introduced into the attack in the eighth over, and his shrewd bowling paid off when Kohli, looking to accelerate the run-rate, misjudged a shot and holed out to mid-wicket for 33, presenting a significant breakthrough for RR.
Following Kohli’s dismissal, the match saw a gripping tussle unfold. Green initially took charge by attacking Chahal, while Patidar was more circumspect in regaining his rhythm. However, R Ashwin, who was anchoring the other end, bowled with discipline, restricting runs and piling pressure on RCB batsmen. This pressure paid off when Green, scoring 27 off 21 balls, misjudged another shot and was caught at cover by Powell in the 13th over. In the very next delivery, Glenn Maxwell aimed for a big hit but was caught comfortably at long-on. With these dismissals, RCB found themselves at 97 for four after 13 overs.
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Patidar appeared to regain his confidence soon after, striking two sixes in the next seven deliveries. But in the 15th over, Avesh Khan broke through again, tempting Patidar into a false shot, which led to his dismissal for 34, caught at mid-off. Dinesh Karthik entered the fray with an on-field lbw decision against him overturned upon review, staving off additional pressure.
As the innings neared its climax, Mahipal Lomror emerged as the aggressor, crafting a timely 32 off 17 balls, propelling RCB past the 160-run mark. Additional contributions in the final over by Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma saw the score nudge upwards to a competitive 172.
Beginning the chase, RR’s batters initially struggled to find their groove against some disciplined bowling from RCB’s attack. Yet, Yashaswi Jaiswal relieved some pressure in the third over by striking four boundaries off Yash Dayal, although one of them required a difficult dropped catch at first slip. The RR batsmen then found their rhythm, with the openers constructing a crucial 46-run partnership. RCB secured their first wicket in the fifth over as Lockie Ferguson bowled a deceptive slower delivery that dismantled Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s stumps for a score of 20.
Jaiswal and Samson managed to keep pace with the required run rate until Jaiswal, having edged close to a half-century, attempted an ambitious scoop against Green only to edge it to the wicketkeeper. Samson was next to depart, miscalculating a charge against Karn Sharma, leading to a stumping for 17.
The onus then shifted to Riyan Parag to steer the chase. Despite a momentary scare with Dhruv Jurel’s brilliant run out initiated by a Kohli throw, Parag remained composed. His partnership with Impact Player Shimron Hetmyer turned the tables with calculated aggression, dismantling the RCB bowlers’ efforts to clinch the game.
With five overs to target 48 runs, Hetmyer initiated the attack by sending Green’s opening delivery soaring for a six over long-on. Parag followed suit by lifting a six over cover and threading another through third-man for four, firmly shifting momentum towards RR. Hetmyer’s return to the squad proved pivotal as his experience helped stabilize the chase, especially in absorbing high-pressure situations. Despite Siraj’s return to claim both Parag (36 from 26) and Hetmyer (26 off 14), Rovman Powell ensured that there were no further hurdles. With composed and strategic batsmanship, Powell sealed the win for RR, completing the chase in the penultimate over with emphatic boundaries and a six.
Now, with a significant win under their belt, Rajasthan Royals are all set to face Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai, moving one step closer to the coveted IPL final.