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28 March 2024

RCB vs RR: Bangalore rout Rajasthan by 71 runs

Shane Watson of Australia bats during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Semi Final match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 26, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Getty Images)

Published
By Cricket Correspondent
 

Royal Challengers Bangalore thrashed former champions Rajasthan Royals by 71 runs in the Eliminator of IPL8 to take a step closer to their maiden title.

Chasing a target of 181, Rajasthan were never really in the hunt losing wickets at regular intervals to crumble to 109 with Rahane (42) waging a lone battle in a losing cause.

Aravind, Patel, Wiese and Chahal claimed two wickets apiece while Starc snared one.

Earlier, Royals were blown away by whirlwind half centuries from AB de Villiers (66) and Mandeep Singh (54 not out) who featured in a 113-run stand off just 70 balls for the second wicket.

The damage was inflicted in the last six over which went for 86 to set up victory for RCB who will meet Chennai Super Kings in the Qualifier 2 on May 22.

Rajasthan innings

Kulkarni is the last man out as Rajasthan are bundled out for 109 in 19 overs.

Dhawal Kulkarni b Chahal 3 (9b 0x4 0x6)

One more bites the dust as Hooda departs. RR 99-9, 16.5 overs.

Deepak Hooda c Starc b Wiese 11 (14b 0x4 0x6)

It's all over bar the shouting now as Morris goes for a duck. RR 95-8, 16 overs.

Chris Morris c Chahal b Starc 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Another one goes down almost instantly as Binny runs himself out. RR 92-7, 14.5 overs.

Stuart Binny run out 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Rajasthan are crumbling in a heap with Faulkner being caught and bowled via an inside edge which ricocheted off his toes. RR 92-, 14.4 overs.

James Faulkner c and b Aravind 4 (4b 1x4 0x6)

Rajasthan's hopes of chasing down the target appears to fade as Rahane perishes. RR 87-5, 14 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane c de Villiers b Chahal 42 (39b 4x4 0x6)

Patel strikes another crucial blow as Karun is caught behind. RR 79-4, 12.1 overs.

Karun Nair c Karthik b Patel 12 (13b 2x4 0x6)

Rajasthan are 68-3 at the halfway needing 113 off 60 balls.

Skipper Smith perishes slicing Weise to cover. RR 55-3, 8.1 overs.

Steve Smith c de Villiers b Wiese 12 (13b 1x4 0x6)

Patel strikes as Samson is caught behind failing to negotiate a rising delivery. RR 33-2, 4.5 overs.

Sanju Samson c Karthik b Patel 5 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Watson perishes chasing a wide delivery from Aravind and being adjudged caught behind. RR 14-1, 2 overs.

Shane Watson c Karthik b Aravind 10 (5b 2x4 0x6)

Watson opens his account by slamming back to back boundaries off Starc on either side of the wicket.

Bangalore innings

Explosive half centuries from AB de Villiers (66) and Mandeep Singh (54 not out) helped Bangalore make a challenging 180-4 pummelling 86 in the last six overs.

AB blasted four boundaries and four sixes while Mandeep cracked seven boundaries and two sixes being associated in a 113-run stand off 70 balls for the second wicket.

Kulkarni (2-28) claimed the prized wickets of Gayle and Kohli to reduced RCB to 46-2 in the eighth over.

Mandeep races to his 50 off 34 balls smashing a six and boundary off Faulkner. RCB 169-3, 19 overs.

AB's brilliant knock comes to an end. RCB 159-3, 18.4 overs.

AB de Villiers run out 66 (38b 4x4 4x6)

AB de Villiers smashes Morris for a six to reach his half century off 34 balls. It also brings up the century partnership with Mandeep. RCB 154-2, 18 overs.

Mandeep hammers a couple of boundaries off Faulkner to continue the momentum. RCB 124-2, 16 overs.

Ankit goes for 19 as AB de Villiers unfurls his fury hammering a couple of sixes and boundary. RCB 113-2, 15 overs.

AB de Villiers seems to have dropped anchor while Mandeep is swinging the blade with gay abandon at the other end. RCB 88-2, 13 overs.

Mandeep smashes a boundary and six off Kulkarni to break the shackles. RCB 60-2, 10 overs.

Double blow for Bangalore as Kohli departs chipping a return catch to Kulkarni. RCB 46-2, 7.3 overs.

Virat Kohli c and b Kulkarni 12 (18b 0x4 0x6)

Kulkarni strikes getting the big wicket of Gayles who swings and misses. RCB 41-1, 6 overs.

Chris Gayle b Kulkarni 27 (26b 4x4 1x6)

Gayle cracks the second ball of the match from Morris through the off for a boundary.

Bangalore have won the toss and opted to bat first.

Playing XI

RCB: V Kohli, CH Gayle, AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, KD Karthik, SN Khan, D Wiese, MA Starc, HV Patel, YS Chahal, S Aravind

RR: AM Rahane, SR Watson, SPD Smith, SV Samson, JP Faulkner, KK Nair, CH Morris, DJ Hooda, STR Binny, DS Kulkarni, Ankit Sharma

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator of IPL8 at MCA International Stadium, Pune on Wednesday.

The winner of this match will  take on the Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 2 on May 22 in Ranchi.

The head to head between RCB and RR stands at seven wins apiece with one washed out fixture.

Both teams have suffered from rain affected fixtures this season with RCB being denied the chance to vie for a second-place finish in the standings when they began their run-chase against the Delhi Daredevils.

RCB finished the league season with 16 points – 14 of them from their seven wins and two points from the two washed out fixtures.

The Royals have had a mixed season topping the table at the start of the season before losing their way. They qualified at the expense of Kolkata Knight Riders on the penultimate day of the league stage.

There will no shortage of fireworks from the Virat Kohli-led RCB who have Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers while Royals are buoyed by the return to form of Shane Watson while Ajinkya Rahane has been their most reliable batsman.

In the first of the meetings between the two teams this season, RCB cruised to a comfortable nine-wicket win in Ahmedabad.

The return fixture played in Bengaluru was washed out midway through the contest.

This is the third season that the Royals have finished the season among the top four teams.