In a thrilling IPL 2024 Eliminator match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinched a nail-biting victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 4 wickets. The match was packed with excitement, keeping fans glued to their seats until the very last ball.
RCB's Innings: Opportunities Lost
After being sent to bat, RCB scored 172 for 8 in their 20 overs. Their innings saw some good starts, but they kept losing wickets at the wrong times.
- Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis opened the batting but couldn't establish a big partnership. Kohli was looking good with 33 runs off 24 balls but fell to a clever delivery by Yuzvendra Chahal.
- Faf du Plessis scored 17 off 14 balls before being caught by Rovman Powell off Trent Boult’s bowling.
- Rajat Patidar shone for RCB with a quick 34 off 22 balls, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes.
- Mahipal Lomror played a crucial knock of 32 off 17 balls, injecting some much-needed momentum into the innings.
However, RCB kept losing wickets at critical moments. Trent Boult and Avesh Khan bowled brilliantly for RR, taking two wickets each and maintaining tight lines.
RR's Effective Bowling
Rajasthan Royals' bowlers put up a solid performance:
- Trent Boult was exceptional with figures of 4-0-16-1.
- Avesh Khan also impressed, picking up 3 wickets for 43 runs.
- Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal controlled the middle overs, taking key wickets and building pressure.
RCB’s innings saw a loss of momentum due to RR's strategic bowling and sharp fielding, which prevented them from posting a more formidable total.
RR's Journey to Victory: Sure
Chasing 173, Rajasthan Royals started confidently:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal was the star of the chase, scoring a brisk 45 off 30 balls, including 8 fours and a six. His aggressive start laid a strong foundation for RR.
- Tom Kohler-Cadmore added a quick 20 off 15 balls before being bowled by Lockie Ferguson.
RR's innings was marked by crucial partnerships and smart batting:
- Sanju Samson, the captain, played a steady innings, contributing 17 runs.
- Riyan Parag kept the scoreboard ticking with 36 off 26 balls, anchoring the middle order.
- Shimron Hetmyer smashed 26 off 14 balls, adding valuable runs towards the end.
Despite some hiccups, with wickets falling at regular intervals, Rovman Powell kept his cool, scoring an unbeaten 16 to guide RR to victory. They reached the target of 174 with one over to spare, finishing at 174 for 6 in 19 overs.