Consecutive losses made it almost impossible for Royal Challengers Bangalore to play in the playoffs. The prospect hung on many ‘if-buts’. Only a fairy tale could get them into the playoffs. Coming into the last game with consecutive wins, the hopes were a little brighter, but it was difficult for them to overtake Chennai Super Kings. The eyes of the rain were painted on it. But after a suffocating fight, Bengaluru got a place in the playoffs by matching the equation.
Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs in a thrilling game at home on Saturday (May 18). Bengaluru scored 218 runs after losing 5 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs. In response, Chennai stopped at 191 runs for 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. However, Bengaluru would not be able to get a place in the play-offs only if they win. They had to stop Chennai under 200 runs. Bengaluru has made it to the playoffs as the fourth team in that equation.
Before the start of this match, Bengaluru was number seven with 12 points. On the other hand, Chennai was fourth with 14 points in 13 matches. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side has to lose by less than 18 runs against Bengaluru to play the playoffs. A win by more than that would have only earned Bengaluru a play-off ticket. The scope was greater in Chennai. But in the end, Chennai couldn’t even create chances. As a result, the last time champions had to stop before the playoffs this time.
Batting first, Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis’s half-century and Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Cameroon Green’s batting got a big collection. In response, Chennai lost 6 wickets for 129 runs. From there, Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni brought Chennai back into the fight with great batting. But Chennai fell out of the fight with Dhoni’s exit in the last over.
Earlier today, Virat Kohli came down to bat and created a storm with the bat. Bengaluru scored 31 runs in just 3 overs. But soon after that it started raining. At that time the game stopped for a while. When the game starts after the rain, their run speed slows down. Bengaluru completed the team’s fifty runs in the fourth ball of the seventh over.
Kohli departed with Santner’s ball for the team’s 78 runs. He scored 47 runs off 29 balls with 3 fours and 4 sixes.
Then, Bengaluru completed the century with the second ball of the 12th over. However, in the 13th over, captain Du Plessis departed after the team scored 113 runs. He was run out after scoring 54 runs off 39 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Bengaluru walks towards a big collection as Rajat Patidar and Cameroon Greens shine. Patidar scored 41 runs off 23 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes. Green remained unbeaten on 38 off 17 balls with 3 fours and a six. Towards the end, Dinesh Karthik played a cameo of 14 off 6 balls, and Glenn Maxwell made 16 off 5 balls.
In response, Chennai lost the wicket of captain Ruturaj on the first ball. Darryl Mitchell (4) also departed after 19 runs. However, Chennai turned around with the bat of another opener, Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane. The pair added 66 runs.
Chennai lost Rahane at 85 runs. He scored 33 runs off 22 balls with 3 fours and 1 six.
Chennai was in danger of losing the wickets of Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube in two consecutive overs. Chennai lost Rabindra at 115 runs. He was run out with 61 runs off 37 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. In the next over, Green brought back Dubey who scored 7 runs off 15 balls.
Mitchell Santner (3) also departed in the next over after 10 runs were added. Then, Chennai went on the back foot.
Ravindra Jadeja and Mahendra Singh Dhoni then brought Chennai back into the fight from here. Chennai needed 72 runs in the last five overs to qualify for the playoffs. From the beginning, both were eager to match the equation.
Chennai needed 35 runs in the last two overs to qualify for the play-offs. Jadeja-Dhoni scored 19 runs in the 19th over off Ferguson. As a result, Chennai needed 17 runs in the last over. Dhoni reduced the target by hitting Yash Dayal’s first ball of that over for a six. But Dhoni was caught by Swapneel Singh. The former Chennai captain scored 25 runs with 3 fours and 1 six off 13 balls before getting out.
Thakur could not get any runs on the next ball. He gave Jadeja a chance with a runoff of the fourth ball. But Jadeja could not get any runs from those two balls. Dayal gave only 7 runs in the last over. Jadeja scored 42 runs off 22 balls with 3 fours and sixes but could not match the equation in the last two balls. With this, Bengaluru made it to the playoffs for the ninth time.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 218/5 (20.0)
Chennai Super Kings – 191/7 (20.0)
Result – Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 27 runs.
Player of the match – Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis
Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Faf du Plessis (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Karn Sharma, Mahipal Lomror, Yash Dayal, Rajat Patidar, Lockie Ferguson, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj |
Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Santner, Tushar Deshpande, Ajinkya Rahane, Simarjeet Singh, Rachin Ravindra, Maheesh Theekshana |
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