During Wednesday’s Eliminator in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals managed to stop Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s juggernaut in the Indian Premier League by achieving a hard-fought four-wicket victory.
Although RCB got limited to 172 for 8 by RR bowlers, their middle overs’ batters had a problem and that gave RCB the chance to make a comeback into the match that remained balanced almost through-out the second half of it.
Eventually, despite numerous challenges, this was achieved and the initial champions of IPL scored 174 for 6 utilizing one over less due to an unbeaten 16 runs from Rovman Powell at the close which helped them win a nerve-racking game.
He showed great determination under difficult circumstances yet again during his innings today as Riyan Parag (36 off 26) assisted Rajasthan’s stay alive dream come true. This was their first win in five matches after losing four and having one called off without a ball being bowled.
2008 winners Royals face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Friday for a place in the IPL final.
Shimron Hetmyer too played his part well and made valuable contribution of 26 runs from just fourteen balls upon return.
As It Happened
In an encounter where fortunes changed quickly, RR stayed ahead with important performances throughout even though Mohammed Siraj (2/33) brought back late hopes for RCB by removing Parag and Hetmyer within an over,
With only ten needed from last two overs; Powell dispatched Ferguson for two fours to seal the nail-biting match in their favor;
Previously Yashasvi Jaiswal (45 off 30) provided them with good start.
Jaiswal had been caught out once already but he grew more confident after facing some deliveries from Dayal which he could cash-in on as he released pressure by hitting four boundaries in that third over alone.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore (20), at the other hand, took on Siraj for two boundaries while benefiting from Maxwell’s error when he spilled a simple catch out in deep square leg off Dayal.
RCB needed to break the partnership as RR was accelerating their chase by taking runs off the target; this is where Kohler-Cadmore fell to Lockie Ferguson with his slow yorker that crashed into the stumps.
Jaiswal’s innings had picked up and he was finding his touch but it was broken down completely due to extreme heat after facing only 29 balls.
Between ninth and tenth over, Jaiswal received treatment, got up and made an attempt to hit Cameron Green over point but only succeeded to glove it straight into keeper’s hands.
Moreover, Karn Sharma struck back by having Sanju Samson (17) stumped.
This time around Jurel ran himself out by diving in for a quick single before being sent back by Kohli as both Jurel and Green could be seen running towards the same end. The RCB skipper gathered pace coming in from wide of long-on and threw down the stumps at non-striker’s side which found Jurel short of crease halfway through the second run.
RR were firmly under pressure heading into the 15th over when they chose to go after Green, who had been all over them with three tidy overs and a wicket up until then.
Hetmyer hit the Australian for six and Parag was able to do the same while also finding a four, which made him collect 17 runs.
Before that, the Rajasthan Royals had put in a remarkable bowling performance.
Under the guidance of Trent Boult (4-0-16-1) who opened with a 3-0-6-1 spell, RR bowlers kept striking at vital junctures so as to have a hold on the match.
Ravichandran Ashwin the venerable (4-0-19-2), returns with wickets Cameron Green (27) and Glenn Maxwell (0) on consecutive deliveries after having gone wicketless for quite some time before Avesh Khan’s helpful three wickets for forty-four runs.
Rajasthan’s fielders were bundled up by their bowlers especially Rovman Powell who took two stunning catches that retarded RCB’s progress.
