• Faf’s RCB keep IPL playoff hopes alive

    Published on

    Rajat Patidar’s attacking fifty and inspired bowling set up the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s fifth straight win with a 47-run thrashing of the Delhi Capitals on Sunday.

    Bengaluru posted 187-9 after Cameron Green hit an unbeaten 24-ball 32 and then bowled out Delhi for 140 in 19.1 overs at their home M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

    RCB, who moved to fifth, have mounted a late charge to make the playoffs, but will need to win their last league match and other results to go in their favour to be in the top four.

    Delhi slipped to sixth and go into their final match with 12 points. Bengaluru have also 12 points from 13 matches, but boast a better run-rate.

    “Brilliant, we put in some good performances and I’m really pleased. It’s just confidence,” Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis said.

    “First half of the season, things didn’t quite come together and from that batting perspective and bowling perspective we have been able to put it together now.”

    Star batsman Virat Kohli took charge after he smashed 27 off 13 balls to lay the foundation of Bengaluru’s total in a match where Delhi missed skipper Rishabh Pant, who was suspended after a slow over-rate offence.

    Kohli remains the leading batsman this season with 661 runs including one century and five half-tons.

    Patidar, who hit 52, soon took control in a 88-run stand with England batsman Will Jacks, who smashed 41, before a late charge by Green.

    Delhi faltered in their chase after they lost David Warner for one off left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh.

    Left-arm quick Yash Dayal took down Abishek Porel and then ran out Jake Fraser-McGurk in successive balls and soon Delhi slipped to 30-4.

    Stand-in-skipper Axar Patel put up a fight with his 57 off 39 balls but fell to Dayal in the 16th over and the wheels came off the chase.

    Australia’s Green took a wicket and ran out Tristan Stubbs to add to his batting cameo and was named Man of the Match for the first time this season.

    © Agence France-Presse

    Photo: BCCI

    Post by

    Simon Borchardt