Rajat Patidar’s maiden T20 century (112 not out in 54 balls) powered Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to Qualifier 2 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Bangalore eliminated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and will now face Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Friday in Ahmedabad.
RCB’s win was set up by the 92-run stand from 41 balls between Patidar, a replacement player for the side, and Dinesh Karthik (37 in 23 balls) Lucknow captain K.L. Rahul (79 off 58) kept his side in the chase until a brilliant exhibition of death bowling from Harshal Patel (1-25) and Josh Hazlewood (3-43) took RCB through.
Royal Challengers Bangalore 207/4 in 20 overs
Rains in Kolkata delayed the toss at Eden Gardens. The match commenced at 8.10 pm, forty minutes after the usual scheduled start. Sent in to bat, Bangalore lost captain Faf du Plessis off the first ball he faced. Having a dream IPL, Mohsin Khan got the ball to nip away from du Plessis to strike first blood for Lucknow.
Patidar ensured Bangalore kept up with the run rate in the Powerplay as Virat Kohli (25 off 24) stepped into a supporting role. Kohli fell to Avesh Khan, trying to step up the scoring in the ninth over. Glenn Maxwell’s stay at the crease (9 off 10) was short-lived: he failed to clear the rope against Krunal Pandya. Mahipal Lomror looked good in his nine-ball stay before falling to Ravi Bishnoi in the 14th over, bringing Karthik earlier to the crease than usual.
The Bangalore carnage began in the 15th over courtesy Patidar, who slammed 12 fours and seven sixes. From 123/4 in 15 overs, they got to 207 without losing another wickets. Patidar plundered 27 off Bishnoi’s final over, and Karthik took 15 from the following over, from Avesh.
With a six off Mohsin’s final over, Patidar brought up his maiden T20 century. Bangalore were aided by some terrible fielding display from Lucknow, which included multiple dropped catches.
The Bangalore superstars – Kohli, Maxwell and du Plessis – collectively got 34 off 35 balls, whereas Patidar, Lomror and Karthik got 163 off 86 balls.
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Lucknow Super Giants 193/6 in 20 overs
Like Lucknow, Bangalore struck in the first over as well. Quinton de Kock hit a six, but Mohammed Siraj took him out. Manan Vohra got a brisk 19 off 11 balls to ensure they did not fall behind the asking rate.
Rahul and Deepak Hooda threatened with a 96-run stand off 61 balls before Wanindu Hasaranga cleaned up the latter. Hasaranga, who has been competing with Yuzvendra Chahal for the Purple Cap this season, was also exceptional on the field.
With Lucknow requiring 70 off 32 balls, Marcus Stoinis walked out to bat but made little impact. While Rahul kept them in the hunt, Harshal’s brilliant variations in the 18th over gave Bangalore the edge. Only eight came off the over, including six extras and the wicket of Stoinis.
With 28 required off nine balls, Hazlewood struck off consecutive balls. He first got Rahul, who failed to perfect the scoop; then he caught Pandya off his own bowling. Only nine came off the over, which included five extras.
Coming to defend 24 off the final over, Harshal went for nine. Evin Lewis batting at No. 6 and Jason Holder dropped for the key match, it seemed Lucknow were not the best tactical side on the night.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore 207/4 in 20 overs (Rajat Patidar 112*; Mohsin Khan 1-25) beat Lucknow Super Giants 193/6 in 20 overs (K.L. Rahul 79; Josh Hazlewood 3-43) by 14 runs. Player of the Match: Rajat Patidar.