Ahmedabad:Rajasthan Royals advanced into the Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 beating Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by four wickets.
Chasing a target of 173 runs, RR got to a solid opening start as Yashasvi Jaiswal (45) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore added 46 runs for the first wicket. However, the dismissal of the English batter led to fall of some more wickets and RR were reduced to 112/4 soon. Riyan Parag and Shemron Hetmyer then joined forces to forge a 45 run-stand for the fifth wicket. Their partnership ensured an victory for the team with six balls to spare.
Earlier in the match, RR elected to bowl after winning the toss and the opening duo of Virat Kohli (33) and Faf du Plessis (17) stitched a partnership of 37 runs for the opening wicket for RCB. The franchise kept losing their wickets at regular intervals but contributions from Rajat Patidar (34 from 22 balls) and Mahipal Lomror (32 from 17 balls) helped the team post 172/8. Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets.
Live updates from the second innings
- Over 16-19 (174/6)
Both Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer played some brilliant strokes yo bring things under control for RR and they were heading for an easy chase with only 19 runs required from the last three overs. However, a double-wicket over from Siraj in the 18th opened up the possibility of a comeback for RCB. But, Powell played a calculative innings by staying at the crease till the end and RR chased the target with six balls to spare.
- Over 11-15 (126/4)
RR were in a position to chase down the target with ease but two quick wickets made the things interesting. 12 runs were amassed from the 11th over and the duo of Jurel and Parag will aim to keep the scoreboard ticking and not allow the opposition to put them under pressure. Parag produced a brilliant shot in the 13th over as he hit a pull against Ferguson to gather six runs. The partnership between Parag and Jurel was blooming but a mix-up dismissed Jurel. The equation is now tough for RR as their lower-order batters will now have to take them over the finish line. The game is going down the wire now and the chasing side needs 47 runs from the last five overs.
- Over 7-10 (86/2)
The Samson-Jaiswal duo produced some brute hitting in the seventh over to get 17 runs from it. Ferguson is not allowing both batters to go big but RCB needs wickets in quick succession to make the match an enthralling contest. Jaiswal is slowly heading towards his fifty while Samson is also getting into the groove. However, Green provided an important breakthrough as he dismissed Yashasvi with a length ball onto the middle stump.
- Over 0-6 (47/1)
The first two overs were quite calm for RR as they managed to muster only six runs from them. However, the opening duo of Jaiswal and Kohler-Cadmore started freeing their arms from the third over. Jaiswal with his four swashbuckling boundaries earned 16 runs from the third while his batting partner smacked a couple of boundaries to ensure 13 runs in the fourth over. However, Lockie Ferguson produced a pin-point yorker to dismiss the English batter and the wicket might help RCB orchestrate a victory.