IPL: Patidar, bowlers keep RCB in playoffs race

A fifth successive win not only kept Royal Challengers Bengaluru in contention for a playoffs spot but also lifted them to fifth spot on the points table, just above Delhi Capitals who have the same points as RCB but an inferior net run rate.

The M Chinnaswamy had gone all quiet when RCB lost Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli inside four overs.

It seemed their batting troubles from the start of the season had come back to haunt them. Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar put to rest any such worries with a counter-attacking partnership, but the DC bowlers struck back with a near-perfect death-overs show to restrict RCB to 187 for 9.

With the Bengaluru crowd firmly behind them, the RCB bowlers had their tails up.

They reduced DC to 30 for 4, which included the massive wicket of Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was run out at the non-striker’s end after a straight drive from Shai Hope deflected off Yash Dayal’s fingers onto the stumps. (ESPNcricinfo)