Rajasthan Royals clinched a thrilling 4-wicket victory over RCB with 6 balls to spare, securing their spot in the Qualifier 2, ending Bengaluru’s impressive six-game winning streak in the process.
In a gripping showdown in the IPL 2024 Eliminator, Rajasthan Royals opted to field first after winning the toss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Led by captain Sanju Samson, the Royals put up a stellar bowling performance, limiting RCB to a total of 172/8. Despite a turbulent start, Avesh Khan shined with three key wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin’s economical spell yielded figures of 2/19.
For RCB, notable contributions from Virat Kohli (33 off 24 balls), Rajat Patidar (34 off 22), and Mahipal Lomror’s quickfire 32 off 17 balls were insufficient to establish substantial partnerships against the disciplined RR bowling attack.
Rajasthan started their chase of 173 briskly, as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tom Kohler-Cadmore unleashed boundaries. However, a middle-order slump ensued with key dismissals of Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and a pivotal run-out of Dhruv Jurel causing some concern. Despite setbacks, Riyan Parag contributed vital runs before his departure, followed by Shimron Hetmyer’s exit. Rovman Powell then navigated the pressure admirably, guiding Rajasthan to a 4-wicket victory in the 19th over with composed batting.
Bengaluru didn’t score enough runs and needed quick wickets, but they struggled to get them. Mistakes in the field didn’t help. They improved in the middle overs, taking a few wickets. A fantastic run-out by Virat Kohli boosted Bengaluru’s morale. However, the target became too low, requiring many wickets in a short time. Mohammed Siraj took two wickets, but it was too late. Rovman Powell then easily finished the remaining 13 runs. With this defeat, Bengaluru exited the competition swiftly after a recent playoff qualification.
Last Updated on May 22, 2024
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