RR vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2024 Eliminator: RR defeat RCB by four wickets, face SRH in Qualifier 2

Rajasthan Royals manage to go past the finish line despite losing wickets in a cluster in the middle overs as well as after Mohammed Siraj’s twin-strike in his final over. RR were off to a superb start after restricting RCB to 172 thanks primarily to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 30-ball 45. Later Riyan Parag (36) and Shimron Hetmyer (26) came to the Royals’ rescue after they had been reduced to 112/4, and got them within touching distance of the target with an attacking fifth-wicket partnership. And in the end, Rovman Powell provided the finishing touch to ensure there was no last-over drama.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru would’ve hoped to keep the party going with a seventh consecutive victory, and it would have been a story for the ages had they ended up in the final or even won the 17th season after nearly becoming the first team to bow out of the playoffs following their one-run loss at the Eden Gardens. To reach the playoffs after they were given a one per cent chance at that stage with six consecutive victories is as incredible a feat as it can get. RCB failed to finish an IPL campaign with the trophy in their hands for the 17th season running, but can hold their heads high for the character they showed this season and the manner in which they fought back from a near-hopeless position.

Virat Kohli, meanwhile, will be left heartbroken with the IPL trophy once again slipping out of his grasp. But he can’t stay in that state for too long. There’s a T20 World Cup coming up and he will have to put the Eliminator defeat behind and bring his ‘A’ game for Team India.

After 19 overs, RR 174/6 (Rovman Powell 16, Ravichandran Ashwin 0)

SIX! Rovman Powell finishes off in style, making up for the failed finish against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Uppal earlier this season, as Rajasthan Royals defeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by four wickets to march into Qualifier 2, where they await SRH!

For the RCB, it’s the end of a magical campaign in which they ended up sneaking into the playoffs when they had just a 1 per cent chance to do so!

After 18 overs, RR 160/6 (Rovman Powell 2, )

OUT! It’s a double-wicket over for Mohammed Siraj, and he gets rid of both set batters! Hetmyer attempts to flick a full delivery from Siraj, only to get a thick leading edge. Faf pedals back from the cover region to complete another superb catch! He had pulled off a blinder that played a crucial role in RCB’s victory over CSK at Chinnaswamy last week. Can we witness a repeat today?

Hetmyer c du Plessis b Siraj 26(14)

BOWLED! RCB are not out of this year! Riyan Parag would’ve wanted to finish the game for his side and power the Royals into Qualifier 2, only to get his defence breached by a full delivery from Siraj that leaves the stumps in a mess! RR 157/5; need 16 off 16

Parag b Siraj 36(26)

After 17 overs, RR 154/4 (Riyan Parag 36, Shimron Hetmyer 24)

FOUR! FOUR! It’s nearly a run-a-ball now for the Royals as Yash Dayal concedes 11 in his third over after being brought back in the 17th over, with Hetmyer smashing a low full toss straight down the ground before carving a length ball behind backward point, collecting a four on each occasion. RR need 19 off 18 with six wickets in hand.

After 16 overs, RR 143/4 (Riyan Parag 35, Shimron Hetmyer 14)

Massive over for the Royals, as Cameron Green is smashed for 17 in his final over after conceding just 11 in his first three while getting the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal! Could this be the over that signals the end of their magical campaign? Hetmyer heaves the ball towards the wide long on fence at the start of the 16th, managing to clear the fence despite appearing to have mishit the ball. Parag follows up with a six and a four off consecutive balls later in the over, going for an inside out loft that ends up clearing the extra cover fence followed by ramp towards the third man fence. RCB need just 30 more to win off 24 with enough wickets in hand.

After 15 overs, RR 126/4 (Riyan Parag 25, Shimron Hetmyer 7)

Siraj returns in the 15th over of the chase, with Riyan Parag nearly joining Dhruv Jurel in suffering a run-out. This time it was the batter at fault as he was focusing on the ball instead of responding to Hetmyer’s push for a second run. Had Faf du Plessis’ throw been a little more accurate, he would’ve been well short of the crease. 11 off Siraj’s over, Hetmyer collecting a boundary in the penultimate delivery after getting a top-edge off a pull that sends the ball towards the fine leg fence, leaving RR needing 47 to win off 30.

After 14 overs, RR 115/4 (Riyan Parag 21, Shimron Hetmyer 1)

OUT! Outstanding effort from Virat Kohli at deep midwicket that eventually results in Dhruv Jurel’s run-out! Kohli charges towards the ball from deep square leg; not only does he prevent the boundary, he ends up catching Jurel short at the non-striker’s end with a sharp throw. Credit should also go to Green for collecting the ball and breaking the stumps in a flash. Jurel’s bat was a fraction short at the time of the bails lighting up, and perhaps a dive might have saved him here. He departs for a run-a-ball eight, as RR lose their fourth wicket. RCB were under pressure after Ferguson had conceded 11 in the previous over, including a six to Riyan Parag. Jurel’s run-out, however, restores parity in the game. The dismissals also are a timely reminder of whose the the Motera crowd is on, with a massive roar accompanying each dismissal in the Rajasthan chase. Shimron Hetmyer, meanwhile, comes in as the ‘Impact Player’.

Jurel run-out (Kohli/Green) 8(8)

After 12 overs, RR 100/3 (Riyan Parag 8, Dhruv Jurel 7)

Good second over from Cam Green to stem the flow of runs, conceding just two singles that help RCB reach 100. Big appeal for caught-behind by Green in the fourth delivery after bowling a steep bouncer to Parag, and convinces skipper Faf to take it upstairs after the umpire shakes his head, resulting in review getting burned. RCB need 73 to win off 48.

After 11 overs, RR 98/3 (Riyan Parag 7, Dhruv Jurel 6)

OUT! Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back in the game with a couple of quick wickets, with Sanju Samson getting stumped on 17. The leg-spinner noticed the Rajasthan Royals skipper dancing down the track and decided to put this out of his reach by firing wide outside off, even if the umpire raised his arms for a wide. Dhruv Jurel joins Riyan Parag at the centre and both batters collect a boundary each in the remaining deliveries of the over, which costs Karn 12 runs for Samson’s wicket.

Samson st Karthik b Karn 17(13)

After 10 overs, RR 85/2 (Sanju Samson (C/WK) 17, Riyan Parag 2)

OUT! Cam Green with the breakthrough as a tiring Jaiswal ends up gloving the ball to Dinesh Karthik while attempting to ramp a length ball from the seamer towards fine leg. The opener misses out on a half-century in the process as the Aussie all-rounder breaks a budding second-wicket stand. The Royals reach 85/2 at the halfway stage, needing another 87 to win off 60 with eight wickets in hand.

Jaiswal c Karthik b Green 45(30)

After 9 overs, RR 80/1 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 45, Sanju Samson (C/WK) 14)

Sanju Samson is nearly run-out at the non-striker’s end after being denied a second run by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second delivery of the ninth over. He had turned around and was looking at Jaiswal before grounding his bat at the non-striker’s crease, and could have been run-out had leg-spinner Karn Sharma actually thrown the ball at the stumps instead of slacking off. Virat Kohli had a perplexed expression on his face as a result of the missed opportunity. Jaiswal, meanwhile, is cramping up at the moment and that is perhaps why he turned down the second.

After 8 overs, RR 74/1 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 42, Sanju Samson (C/WK) 11)

Jaiswal and Samson instantly put the Royal Challengers under pressure after Ferguson’s outstanding first over of the evening as Swapnil is smashed for 17 in his second over. RR captain Samson stays on the back-foot to pull a short delivery from the left-arm spinner for a six over deep midwicket. Jaiswal later collects back-to-back fours courtesy a drive through extra cover in the penultimate delivery followed by a firm cut behind square.

Ferguson continues from the other end, and goes for 10 in his second over, including a boundary to Jaiswal off the second ball as the southpaw gets a thick outside edge that carries the ball all the way to the third man boundary.

After 6 overs, RR 47/1 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 25, Sanju Samson (C/WK) 1)

BOWLED! WHAT A BALL! Tom Kohler-Cadmore doesn’t stick around for long after getting dropped by Glenn Maxwell as Lockie Ferguson foxes him with a well-disguised back-of-the-hand slower yorker, with the ball hitting the base of the off-stump! The opening partnership has been broken just short of the fifty mark in the final over of the powerplay. Wicketkeeper-captain Sanju Samson joins Jaiswal at the centre, and gets off the mark with a single. Outstanding first over from Ferguson as he concedes just two runs while getting rid of TKC.

Kohler-Cadmore b Ferguson 20(15)

After 5 overs, RR 45/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 24, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 20)

DROPPED! Glenn Maxwell a sitter at deep midwicket to give Tom Kohler-Cadmore a reprieve on 11 after the Englishman pulls a length ball from Yash Dayal in his direction. Things go from bad to worse for Dayal, RCB’s final-over hero against CSK at Chinnaswamy, concedes a couple of boundaries in the last three deliveries, both to TKC. 10 off the fifth over. RCB going at nine-an-over at present.

After 4 overs, RR 35/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 23, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 11)

FOUR! FOUR! Tom Kohler-Cadmore is among the boundaries now as he smacks Siraj for back-to-back boundaries at the start of the fourth over, whipping a length ball through midwicket before smashing the ball through the covers next up. The Hyderabadi pacer concedes a third boundary later in the over thanks to a misfield by Swapnil at deep backward square after a miscued pull by Jaiswal.

After 3 overs, RR 22/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 19, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 2)

DROPPED! Tough chance for Green at first slip that’s a little wider from the keeper than usual. The Aussie all-rounder leaps to his right and the ball ends up deflecting off his right hand and rolls away towards the boundary rope for a four. Jaiswal had been under a bit of pressure after failing to collect a boundary in the first two overs, and nearly perished as a result. Jaiswal collects three boundaries in the next four deliveries, and he’s in a lot more control in those shots — carving a short-of-length ball behind point followed by a crisp drive through the cover region and a low outside edge that pierces the slip cordon. 16 off Dayal’s first over of the evening.

After 2 overs, RR 6/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 3, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 2)

Pace from the other end, with Mohammed Siraj bowling the second over of the RR chase. Siraj too doesn’t concede a single boundary, with four runs getting added to the Rajasthan total in the second over including a leg bye. Jaiswal gets a thick outside edge in the final delivery that nearly results in a catch for Yash Dayal near wide third man.

After 1 over, RR 2/0 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 1, Tom Kohler-Cadmore 1)

Tidy first over from Swapnil, with the left-arm spinner conceding just two runs off it. Both Jaiswal and Kohler-Cadmore open their accounts with a single each.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tom Kohler-Cadmore walk out to begin Rajasthan Royals’ chase of the 173-run target set by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

RCB begin with spin tonight with left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh, who has been drafted in as an Impact Player, bowling the first over.

After 20 overs, RCB 172/8 (Swapnil Singh 9, )

Sandeep Sharma bowls the final over. FOUR! Lapse of concentration by Jaiswal as a misfield at backward point allows the ball to roll away to the fence for a four. SIX! Swapnil Singh shuffles to his right and smacks a full toss outside off towards the square leg fence for a maximum! OUT! Fourth catch of the evening for Powell as Karn smacks a full toss from Sandeep straight into his hands at deep cover to perish for 5 in the final delivery of the innings.

With that, Rajasthan Royals restrict Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 172/8 after opting to field.

Karn c Powell b Sandeep 5(4)

After 19 overs, RCB 159/7 (Swapnil Singh 1, Karn Sharma 0)

Superb final over from Avesh Khan as he gets rid of both dangermen in Karthik and Lomror, the latter perishing three balls after DK’s dismissal. Lomror attempts to steer a well-directed wide yorker from Avesh, but doesn’t get enough power on the shot to reduce Powell standing in front of the point boundary to a mere spectator. Five runs and two wickets from Avesh’s final over, with the Madhya Pradesh pacer signing off with figures of 3/44. 180 suddenly appears out of reach for RCB.

Lomror c Powell b Avesh 32(17)

OUT! Avesh gets rid of Karthik after all! Bowls a steep bouncer to the veteran finishes while taking pace off it. DK attempts to slap it over the covers, but only succeeds in sending it high up in the air, giving Yashasvi Jaiswal enough time to settle under the ball and complete a safe catch. RCB 154/6

Karthik c Jaiswal b Avesh 11(13)

After 18 overs, RCB 154/5 (Mahipal Lomror 28, Dinesh Karthik 11)

Sandeep is brought back in the death overs. DK greets him with a boundary, redirecting a low full toss down leg towards the backward square leg fence. Sandeep restricts Karthik and Lomror to ones and twos in the remainder of the over, conceding 10 off his third. Trent Boult bowls out his final over next up, conceding 10 off it including his first and only boundary of the evening, with Lomror going for an inside-out slap over the cover region off a slower bouncer in the second delivery of the 18th. RCB go past the 150-mark with two overs left.

After 16 overs, RCB 134/5 (Mahipal Lomror 15, Dinesh Karthik 4)

Avesh nearly collects back-to-back wickets after successfully appealing for leg-before against Dinesh Karthik right after dismissing Patidar. Karthik takes this upstairs after a chat with the non-striker, and replays show a nick on UltraEdge with the ball close to the bat’s inside edge, resulting in the TV umpire ruling it in favour of the batter. Royals coach Kumar Sangakkara however, is not happy with the decision and decides to have a word with the umpires. Sanga’s among those who’s noticed the bottom of DK’s bat hit his pad with the ball close to the inside edge. While the toe-end of the bat was visibly in contact with the bat, the same cannot be said of the inside edge and the ball. The TV umpire perhaps wasn’t entirely sure where the spike came from, and ultimately gave the batter the benefit of the doubt.

Chahal, meanwhile, concedes seven in his final over to sign off with figures of 1/43. He was keeping things tight, conceding just three singles in the first five deliveries before getting slog-swept for a six by Lomror in the final delivery that comfortably clears wide long on.

OUT! Rajat Patidar perishes right after smashing Avesh Khan for a maximum over fine leg, mishitting a slower ball from the pacer towards mid off where Riyan Parag completes the catch. Patidar was starting to look dangerous at this phase, and this dismissal potentially saves 15-20 runs for the Royals. RCB 122/5

Patidar c Parag b Avesh 34(22)

After 14 overs, RCB 116/4 (Rajat Patidar 28, Mahipal Lomror 7)

Ashwin signs off with outstanding figures of 2/19 from four overs, removing Green and Maxwell in successive deliveries in his final over. RCB, however, fight back the very next over with Chahal getting smashed for two sixes and a four and leaking 19 runs in his third over. Patidar starts with a slog-sweep over the midwicket fence and later smacks the ball over the cover region four balls later. Mahipal Lomror, meanwhile, has a lucky escape in the third delivery after going for a slog-sweep towards deep midwicket that almost was caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at the edge of the boundary. RCB have 116 on the board with six overs to go.

OUT! Ashwin’s on a hat-trick in his final over as he gets rid of another Aussie in Glenn Maxwell after getting rid of Cameron Green! Maxwell perishes for a golden duck after a miscued slog towards long on, where Dhruv Jurel safely grabs the sitter to make up for the dropped chance in Ashwin’s previous over. RCB suddenly are four down with less than 100 on the board. RCB 97/4

Maxwell c Jurel b Ashwin 0(1)

OUT! Massive wicket for the Royals as Ashwin removes Green, who was starting to accelerate in the middle overs and was becoming a threat for the Royals. Carrom ball from the senior off-spinner, and Green miscues it to offer Powell his second catch at deep midwicket, this one a lot easier than the one to dismiss Faf. RCB 97/3

Green c Powell b Ashwin 27(21)

After 12 overs, RCB 95/2 (Cameron Green 26, Rajat Patidar 15)

DROPPED! Dhruv Jurel spills a catch near mid on after a mishit by Patidar off Ashwin, giving the RCB No 4 a reprieve on 5! How costly will that prove for RR tonight? Patidar collects a boundary off Avesh in the following over, steering a wide yorker behind point. 13 off Avesh’s second over after he’s brought back in place of Chahal.

After 10 overs, RCB 76/2 (Cameron Green 18, Rajat Patidar 5)

Ashwin concedes five in his second over, including a brace to Patidar in the final delivery of the over. SIX! FOUR! Green decides to break the shackles, clearing his front leg and smashing the ball high in the air, clearing the wide long on fence quite comfortably. Chahal had bowled in the slot at the start of his second over and follows it with a flatter delivery outside off. Green adjusts instantly, almost expecting the change in trajectory, and smacks it towards the wide long off fence. 13 off Chahal’s second over. RCB reach 76 at the halfway stage with both of their openers back in the dugout.

After 8 overs, RCB 58/2 (Cameron Green 4, Rajat Patidar 1)

OUT! Kohli perishes shortly after going past 8,000 career runs as he holes out to Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who’s stationed right in front of the midwicket boundary, while attempting to attack leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal early in his spell. Kohli hasn’t shied away from deploying the slog-sweep against spinners this season, but struck off the inside half of his bat this time, and didn’t get the desired distance as a result. RR introduce spinners right after the powerplay and Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal start off with tidy overs, the latter getting a wicket in the process.

Kohli c Kohler-Cadmore b Chahal 33(24)

After 6 overs, RCB 50/1 (Virat Kohli 30, Cameron Green 1)

RR go back to Sandeep after Avesh leaks 17 in his first over. Couple of boundaries conceded by the Chandigarh bowler, both to Kohli. The second one takes the former India and RCB captain to 29, which helps him go past 8,000 IPL runs in the process — another first for the superstar! The 50 comes up for Kohli at the end of the powerplay.

After 5 overs, RCB 37/1 (Virat Kohli 18, Cameron Green 0)

OUT! WHAT A CATCH BY ROVMAN POWELL! Boult had been creating pressure by denying boundaries in the first two overs, and that has finally paid off with Du Plessis pulling a short-of-length delivery towards deep midwicket. This, however, was anything but a regulation catch with Powell having put in a slide to complete a superb catch! Just two runs and a wicket off Boult’s third over.

Du Plessis c Powell b Boult 17(14)

After 4 overs, RCB 34/0 (Virat Kohli 16, Faf du Plessis 18)

Avesh Khan replaces Sandeep Sharma. SIX! Avesh starts off with a short ball and Kohli promptly hooks him over long leg for a maximum. FOUR! Du Plessis shuffles to his right two balls after Kohli’s six, and scoops the length ball towards the vacant fine leg fence for a four. The RCB skipper makes it two boundaries in four balls with a wild heave through the gap between midwicket and mid on. 17 off Avesh’s over.

After 3 overs, RCB 17/0 (Virat Kohli 8, Faf du Plessis 9)

There is simply no collecting boundaries off Boult in the powerplay at the moment, with the left-arm seamer conceding just three singles in his second over. And this after both in-form batters atttempt to take the attack to the New Zealander.

After 2 overs, RCB 14/0 (Virat Kohli 6, Faf du Plessis 8)

Sandeep Sharma charges in from the other end. FOUR! Kohli collects the first boundary of the RCB innings, smacking the ball towards the cow corner fence after charging down the track. Faf collects the first maximum two balls later by smashing the ball over the bowler’s head and towards the sight screen. Solid over for the Royal Challengers with 12 coming off it.