Dubai: Coming off to play in the backdrop of two compressive wins, Royal Challengers Bangalore were expected to ensure their playoff berth today, but a disappointing performance deprived them of being the first team to qualify in the knockouts. On Sunday, RCB succumbed to bottom-placed Chennai Super Kings by a big margin - 8 wickets defeat as the latter chased down the target with eight balls to spare.
CSK, who are already out of the tournament, might have nothing to gain from this win, but their win definitely gives an ominous signal to third place holder RCB. Tight spells from CSK bowlers and failure of lower-order caused RCB's disturbing display today. They lost four wickets for 11 runs in the death overs that restricted them from posting a big total.
CSK's win was orchestrated by their pace bowling duo Sam Curran (3 for 19) and Deepak Chahar (2 for 31) early in the first half. Later, their superb effort was complemented by their batsmen Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis and captain MS Dhoni.
Chasing a modest 145 for 6, CSK got off to a brilliant start from Faf du Plessis (25 off 13) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (65 off 51 not out). The duo shared a 46-run opening wicket partnership to lay the foundation of CSK's chase. The partnership was broken in the first delivery of the sixth over when Chris Morris dismissed du Plessis, who smashed two fours and two sixes.
After his dismissal, Gaikwad was joined Ambati Rayudu. They built a 67-run third-wicket partnership to take CSK close to the target. Both Gaikwad and Rayudu batted aggressively. Hitting four fours and three sixes, Gaikwad notched his first fifty in IPL. Rayudu, on the other hand, was bamboozled by Yuzvendra Chahal after playing a quickfire 39 runs knock off 27 balls in the 14th over.
In the 15th over, Dhoni, who struggled to score until Friday, hit Chris Morris for back to back boundaries to take CSK closer to the win. He went on to score unbeaten 19 off 21 balls and forged a 37-run partnership with Gaikwad to help CSK win their fourth match in IPL 2020.
Earlier, opting to bat first, RCB got off a breezy start from Devdutt Padikkal (22) and Aaron Finch (15). Both of them started with blitzkrieg shots but they couldn't capitalise on a fine start. Finch was the first batter to fall when he went for an expensive shot against a Sam Curran delivery but couldn't clear the boundary as Ruturaj Gaikwad caught him at the deep cover.
Padikkal too departed soon while trying to play a lofted shot over the deep midwicket. His shot was blocked by Faf du Plessis just a metre before the rope. du Plessis made a stunning save and passed it to Gaikwad who didn't make any mistake to grab it.
As the opening pair settled in the dugout with RCB 46 for 2 in 6.1 overs, Kohli and de Villiers took over the reins to rebuild the innings with singles and doubles. The situation seemed to have changed from the first delivery of the 17th over as Virat Kohli smashed Radeja over the long-on boundary for a six. It was Kohli's 200th six in the IPL. But this impression didn't last long.
de Villiers, in particular, was aggressive as he hit four fours. But his promising knock was curtailed by Faf du Plessis as he caught him off Deepak Chahar's bowling in the third delivery of the 18th over. With de Villiers' dismissal, his 82-run fourth-wicket partnership with Kohli came to end.
After de Villiers' departure, it was all but over for RCB as they lacked a whirlwind innings in the death overs. Moeen Ali, who could have been RCB's trump card today, was dismissed for one run by Curran in the first ball of 19th over.
Curran struck again in the 19th over by plucking the coveted scalp of Kohli. Faf du Plessis was again the catcher. However, before his removal, Kohli completed his third fifty in the IPL 2020.
Deepak Chahar soon completed his brace dismissing Chris Morris for 2 as he castled the right-hander.
Among the CSK bowlers, Curran was most successful as he scalped three wickets for 19 runs in three overs.
This defeat will certainly leave RCB to ponder ahead of their clash against Mumbai Indians on October 28 in Abu Dhabi.
