Rajasthan Royals (RR) delivered a stellar all-round performance to secure a thrilling four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Eliminator of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The match, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw RR advance to Qualifier 2, where they will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai.
Choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, RR’s bowlers immediately set the tone, consistently putting brakes on RCB’s efforts to build a substantial total. Though several RCB batters managed to get good starts, none could convert them into significant scores due to a series of timely wickets by RR.
Trent Boult led the charge with the new ball, executing an exemplary spell that yielded just six runs in his three overs, and dismissed RCB’s captain Faf du Plessis for 17. However, at the other end, Sandeep Sharma leaked 12 runs in his over, giving RCB a glimpse of hope.
Avesh Khan was introduced in the fourth over, and RCB’s Virat Kohli welcomed him with a pull shot for six. But Boult struck again in the fifth over, removing du Plessis, who tried to go over mid-wicket, only for Rovman Powell to take a sharp diving catch in the deep.
Sent in at No. 3, Cameron Green joined Kohli, taking RCB to 50 for one by the end of the powerplay. The promising partnership was cut short in the eighth over when Kohli’s attempt to accelerate resulted in him being caught out at mid-wicket for 33 off Yuzvendra Chahal’s delivery, providing RR with a critical breakthrough.
What followed was a dramatic middle phase, with both teams engaging in a tug-of-war for control. Green adopted an aggressive approach against Chahal, while Rajat Patidar struggled initially to find his rhythm. R. Ashwin bowled a crucial spell during the mid-innings, restricting the flow of runs and building up pressure.
This pressure led to impulsive decisions from the RCB batters. Patidar, dropped once by the long-on fielder, saw his partner Green exit in the 13th over after being caught at cover by Powell for 27 off 21 balls. On the very next delivery, Glenn Maxwell holed out to long-on, reducing RCB to 97 for four.
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Patidar regained form momentarily, hitting two sixes in quick succession, but fell for 34 in the 15th over, caught at mid-off. Dinesh Karthik then survived a leg-before appeal, thanks to a review by the third umpire.
In the death overs, Mahipal Lomror’s brisk 32 off 17 balls gave RCB a late boost, lifting them past the 160-run mark. Swapnil Singh and Karn Sharma, with a couple of boundaries in the final over, pushed RCB’s total to a defendable 172.
RR’s chase began on a cautious note, with RCB’s bowlers keeping the batters silent for the initial two overs. Yashaswi Jaiswal broke free in the third, hitting four boundaries off Yash Dayal, though one was a close call dropped at first slip. The openers added 46 runs before RCB struck in the fifth over, with Lockie Ferguson’s slower ball dismissing Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 20.
Sanju Samson and Jaiswal kept the momentum going, finding regular boundaries. Jaiswal, nearing his half-century, was caught behind trying to scoop Green. Soon after, Samson was stumped off a wide delivery from Karn for 17.
The responsibility of the chase then fell to Riyan Parag. Despite a brief scare when Dhruv Jurel was run out by a sensational throw from Kohli, Parag remained composed and forged a crucial partnership with Shimron Hetmyer, the Impact Player.
With 48 needed off the last five overs, Hetmyer’s six over long-on off Green’s delivery, followed by Parag’s lofted six over cover and a four through third-man, swung the match in RR’s favor. Hetmyer’s significant contribution, after returning to the squad, added immense value, showcasing his experience and ability to handle pressure.
Though Siraj managed to remove both Parag (36 off 26) and Hetmyer (26 off 14 balls) late in the innings, RR had brought the equation down to a run-a-ball. Rovman Powell ensured a smooth finish with two boundaries and a six, sealing the victory in the penultimate over.
With this triumph, RR moves on to Chennai, ready to take on KKR in Qualifier 2, keeping their IPL 2024 championship hopes alive.