IPL 2024, Eliminator, RCB vs RR: Ravichandran Ashwin's 2-19, Trent Boult's 1-16 end RCB's journey. Rajasthan Royals to play SRH in Qualifier 2 in Chennai on Friday.
Brief Scores: RCB 172/8 (Rajat Patidar 34, Virat Kohli 33, Avesh Khan 3/44) lost to RR 174/6 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 45, Riyan Parag 36, Mohammad Siraj 2/33) by 4 wickets.
Player of the Match: Ravichandran Ashwin (2/19)
Two teams with contrasting fortunes in the past few games, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), took on each other in the Eliminator at Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan ended RCB’s juggernaut by clinching the game to set a date with Sunrisers for a place in the final of IPL 2024.
After opting to field first, RR, on the back of economical bowling from Ravi Ashwin and Trent Boult, kept the lid on RCB’s scoring rate. The Challengers could manage only a below-par 172/8.
Despite a hiccup in the middle, the Royals successfully chased down 173 thanks to a measured knock by Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer, thus ending their five-match winless streak.
Read More: IPL 2024, Qualifier 1, SRH vs KKR: Starc 3-34, Varun 2-26 derail Sunrisers; Kolkata storm into Final
Key Takeaways from RR vs RCB, Eliminator, Winning Team (RR)
Bowlers came good for the Royals in a crunch game
RR’s premier pacer, Trent Boult, set the tone for his team with a brilliant display of new ball bowling. The Kiwi gave away just six runs in his first three overs and took the all-important wicket of Faf du Plessis in the process.
This spell kept RCB’s scoring rate under control despite Avesh Khan and Sandeep Sharma going for plenty in their respective opening spells (42 runs between them in three overs). Ravichandran Ashwin continued the good work by bowling a tidy four-over spell, going for just 19 runs, and picking wickets of Glenn Maxwell & Cameroon Green.
Avesh, going for plenty in his first two overs (30 runs), came back strongly in the next two overs, conceding just 14 and removing three of RCB’s middle-order batters. All these help RR to restrict RCB to a total they will be comfortable chasing.
Parag’s calmness is admired in tense games
Riyan Parag is one of the most improved uncapped India players on display in this season of IPL, and he once again proved his worth in this important game. Chasing a middling total, RR were on a spell of bother, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in consecutive overs.
Another wicket then would have brought RCB back into the contest and increased pressure on the Royals. But Parag maintained a cool head under pressure by playing a vital knock of 36 that ensured RR was on track to win the game. Despite his dismissal, RR was able to clinch the game and move to Qualifier 2.
Read More: IPL 2024, RCB vs CSK, Key Takeaways: Bengaluru make it to Playoffs on the back of six straight wins
Key Takeaways from RR vs RCB, Eliminator, Losing Team (RCB)
RCB juggernaut came to a halt. Maxwell’s poor outing hurt RCB
Glenn Maxwell’s forgettable season ended on a disappointing note as he departed for his first ball duck in this important match. Not only it expose RCB’s lower middle order relatively early in the piece, but it also dented hopes for piling up a challenging total.
On the field, Maxwell was in pick of things again, dropping a sitter that gave RR early momentum in the powerplays. Overall, it was a poor game for Maxwell to cap off his lacklustre season.
Read More: IPL 2024, CSK vs RR, Key Takeaways: CSK boost their qualification odds; RR still a step away
Statistical highlights from RR vs RCB, Eliminator
For the first time in T20s, Yuzvendra Chahal took the prized scalp of Virat Kohli. But the latter has struggled, scoring just 33 runs in 30 deliveries. Faf du Plessis continued his lukewarm returns against Trent Boult as he got dismissed for the fifth time off the pacer's bowling. Virat Kohli became the first player in IPL history to cross the 8000-run mark. He did so in his 244th IPL innings.
This was Cameroon Green’s 50th T20 game, and he had a decent game, taking a wicket after scoring 27 runs with the bat.
What’s next to come
The knockout phase of IPL 2024 will now move to Chennai as the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) take on the Royals in Qualifier 2 on May 24.
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