RCB hold nerves to beat Super Giants in Eliminator
SUMMARY: Royal Challengers Bangalore 207-4 from 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 112*, Dinesh Karthik 37*, Virat Kohli 25; Mohsin Khan 1-25, Krunal Pandya 1-39, Avesh Khan 1-44, Ravi Boshnoi 1-45) vs Lucknow Super Giants 193-6 from 20 overs (KL Rahul 79, Deepak Hooda 45; Josh Hazlewood 3-43)
The bowlers held their nerves after a spectacular hundred from Rajat Patidar as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 14 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The victory means RCB will now face Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier Two on Friday from 10:00h, with the winner coming up against Gujarat Titans in Sunday’s final from 10:30h.
Defeat ended a dream run for Lucknow Super Giants in their maiden IPL season.
Batting first, RCB racked up an imposing 207-4 and though Super Giants were in the game for the most parts, the chase proved too steep in the end, being held to 193-6.
Patidar, batting at number three, was dominant from the onset, coming in at the fall of Faf du Plessis for a first-ball duck in the first over.
The right-hander smashed 12 fours and seven sixes in an unbeaten 112 off 54 balls (12x4s, 7x6s) and added an unbroken 92 in 6.5 overs with Dinesh Karthik, who plundered 37 off 23 (5x4s, 1×6).
Virat Kohli made 25 off 24 (2x4s).
In reply, Super Giants fell short, losing momentum at the backend after the fall of skipper KL Rahul for 79 off 58 (3x4s, 5x6s). Deepak Hooda made 45 off 26 (1×4, 4x6s), as Josh Hazlewood picked up 3-43.
