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Rajat Patidar’s knock of a lifetime helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) reached the Indian Premier League (IPL) Qualifier 2 by beating Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the eliminator. After Patidar’s unbeaten 112-run knock helped RCB post 207/3, the Faf du Plessis-led managed to win the game by 14 runs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Mixed bag in powerplay overs
The run chase did not get off to an ideal start. Quinton de Kock scored just six runs and got out to Mohammed Siraj in the first over. Manan Vohra played a few attacking shots during the fielding restrictions. However, Vohra could not go on to get a big score and scored just 19 runs from 11 deliveries. Josh Hazlewood got his wicket.
Rahul-Hooda partnership
In the last over of powerplay overs, Rahul took on Siraj and hit him for two sixes and one four to help LSG post 62/2. In the middle overs, Rahul and Deepak Hooda tried to string together a partnership. As RCB bowlers bowled well in the middle, the required run rate kept going up.
After the time out, they decided to attack and hit a six each off Hazlewood in the 14th over. Hooda went after Wanindu Hasaranga as well and hit him for two sixes. But Hasaranga had the last laugh as Hooda got bowled off the fourth ball of the 15th over. Hooda scored 45 runs from 26 deliveries including one four and four sixes. He shared a 96-run partnership for the second wicket.
No-show from Stoinis
After Hooda's wicket, Marcus Stoinis walked out to bat at no.5. Stoinis got off the mark with a six off the Sri Lankan leg spinner. In the next over, Rahul took on Hasaranga as well. With 41 runs needed off the last three overs, Stoinis failed to take on Harshal Patel. He got out after scoring just nine runs from nine deliveries.
Hazlewood’s double blow
In the last two overs, LSG needed 33 runs to win. Evin Lewis could not get one away off Hazlewood. Rahul got out trying to play a scoop shot over short fine leg. He scored 79 runs from 58 deliveries including three fours and five sixes. Hazlewood got another wicket off the next ball as Krunal Pandya played it back to him. Off the final ball, Dushmantha Chameera hit the ball down the ground and got a boundary.
Harshal finishes it off
In the final over, Harshal started off with a full and wide delivery. Lewis hit it straight to the fielder and managed a quick single. Harshal followed it up with a wide delivery. The pacer held his nerves and delivered a dot ball. Chameera hit the third ball for a maximum but could not continue. In the end, LSG lost the game by 14 runs as the final score read 193/6.
Good start
Batting first after the rain delay, RCB lost their skipper Du Plessis early in the innings. Du Plessis edged one to the wicketkeeper of Mohsin Khan’s bowling. In the powerplay overs, Patidar came in to bat. Virat Kohli had most of the strike in the first four overs. Patidar attacked in the last two overs of fielding restrictions and helped RCB post 52/1.
Kohli, Maxwell fail
After the powerplay overs, Kohli lost his wicket to Avesh Khan in an attempt to hit a six square of the wicket. Kohli scored 25 runs from 24 deliveries before losing his wicket in the ninth over. Hard-hitting Australian batter Glenn Maxwell did not make an impact either and got out after scoring just nine runs. In the 11th over, Patidar reached his half-century from 28 deliveries.
Patidar’s record century
Mahipal Lomror hit a few boundaries off Chameera but lost his wicket to Ravi Bishnoi in the 14th over. Patidar decided to take on Bishnoi in the 16th over and hit him for three sixes and two fours. Dinesh Karthik joined the party as well and contributed with a cameo in the slog overs. The 28-year-old reached his maiden IPL century from 49 deliveries with a six off Khan in the 18th over.
All out assault
The penultimate over turned out to be an expensive one as Sri Lankan pacer leaked 21 runs. In the last over, RCB crossed the 200-run mark and posted 207/4. Patidar carried his bat with 112 runs to his name from 54 deliveries including 12 fours and seven sixes. On the other end, Karthik remained unbeaten for 37 off 23 deliveries including five fours and one six. Apart from Mohsin, every LSG bowler leaked boundaries. Chameera turned out to be the most expensive one as he conceded 54 runs in his quota of four overs.
