A brilliant all-round performance saw the Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinch a memorable four-wicket win against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the highly-anticipated Eliminator match of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The showdown took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where RR’s victory secured their progression to Qualifier 2. They will now face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai, vying for a spot in the grand finale.
RR’s skipper, Sanju Samson, won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that quickly seemed wise as the bowlers disrupted any momentum RCB attempted to build. Despite several batsmen getting off to positive starts, none managed to convert those into big scores. Whenever RCB appeared to be gaining steam, the RR bowlers intervened with timely wickets, keeping the opposition in check.
The tone for the game was set early on by Trent Boult, who bowled a fantastic spell with the new ball. In just three overs, he conceded a mere six runs and claimed the crucial wicket of Faf du Plessis, who fell for 17. Sandeep Sharma, although a bit more expensive with 12 runs off his second over, and Avesh Khan, who was greeted by a pulled six from Virat Kohli in his opening over, kept the pressure on.
Boult then struck gold again in the fifth over, dismissing du Plessis with an exceptional delivery. Rovman Powell backed up Boult’s efforts with a diving catch, sending the RCB captain back to the pavilion. As a result, RCB finished their powerplay with a modest score of 50 for one.
In came Cameron Green at number three, a strategic move by RCB to stabilize their innings. However, Yuzvendra Chahal’s introduction in the eighth over resulted in immediate success for RR. Kohli, attempting to accelerate the run rate, ended up holing out to mid-wicket for 33. This breakthrough was crucial and tilted the balance of the game in RR’s favor.
Green and Rajat Patidar tried to rebuild the innings, but R Ashwin’s tight bowling in the middle overs created immense pressure. Green succumbed, trying to force a shot and getting caught by Powell at cover for 27 off 21 balls. The very next ball saw Glenn Maxwell, who was expected to launch an onslaught, also fall prey to Ashwin’s guile, as he was caught at long-on.
At 97 for four in 13 overs, RCB were in dire straits. Patidar attempted to steady the innings and appeared to find his rhythm, smashing two sixes.
. However, his knock was short-lived as Avesh Khan got him out at mid-off for 34. The dismissal of Patidar added to RCB’s woes, but Mahipal Lomror provided some late fireworks. His brisk 32 off 17 balls ensured RCB edged past the 150-run mark. Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma added a few crucial runs in the final over, propelling their score to a respectable 172.
The chase began cautiously for RR, with RCB’s bowlers extracting early assistance from the pitch. However, Yashaswi Jaiswal soon broke free, notably taking four boundaries off Yash Dayal in a single over, one of which was a tough dropped chance at slip. This early onslaught laid a strong foundation, with the opening pair adding 46 runs.
RCB got their first breakthrough in the fifth over when Lockie Ferguson’s slower ball outwitted Tom Kohler-Cadmore, bowling him for 20. This brought Sanju Samson to the crease, who along with Jaiswal, kept the scoreboard ticking.
Jaiswal, playing with fluency, neared his half-century but fell just short when he attempted a scoop shot off Green, only to edge it to the wicketkeeper. Samson followed suit, getting stumped off Karn Sharma for 17, leaving RR in a tricky position.
Riyan Parag took up the responsibility of the chase, keeping his calm even as Dhruv Jurel was brilliantly run out by Kohli’s direct throw. Parag’s partnership with Shimron Hetmyer, the Impact Player, proved decisive. Their calculated assault on the bowlers swung the match firmly in RR’s favor.
With five overs remaining, RR required 48 runs. Hetmyer struck a massive six off Green’s first ball of the over, and Parag followed with a six over cover, maintaining the momentum. Although Siraj managed to dismiss Parag (36 off 26) and Hetmyer (26 off 14), the target had dwindled to a run-a-ball equation. Rovman Powell ensured no further setbacks, sealing the win with two boundaries and a six, guiding RR to victory in the penultimate over.
Rajasthan Royals now advance to the next stage with high spirits, ready to confront the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai. The clash promises to be another thrilling encounter as both teams vie for a spot in the IPL 2024 final.