In the 53rd game of IPL 2018, the hosts Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinched an important 30-run victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur) on Saturday evening. RR scored 164/5 in 20 overs while RCB was bowled out for just 134 runs and knocked out from the tournament.
Hosts’ captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to bat first after winning the toss. After they lost their opener Jofra Archer for a duck, another opener Rahul Tripathi and no.3 skipper batsman Ajinkya Rahane provided a useful 99-run partnership for the second wicket. That partnership set the perfect momentum for the hosts to manage a good total on the board.
Tripathi completed his first half-century in this IPL season in 38 balls and stretched the innings for further. Meanwhile, skipper Rahane was dismissed on 33 runs while Sanju Samson departed in the very next ball for a golden duck.
Then wicketkeeper Heinrich Klassen scored an important 32 runs off 21 balls while Tripathi played till the end of the innings as he was unbeaten on 80 runs off 58 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes.
In the very end, Krishnappa Gowtham also played a crucial unbeaten 14 runs knock off just 5 balls. With the help of those innings, RR managed to put 164/5 at the end of 20 overs.
Among the RCB bowlers, Umesh Yadav (3/25) got three wickets while Mohammed Siraj (1/33) got the only other wicket in that innings.
In reply, RCB lost their opener and skipper Virat Kohli at early for just 4 runs. However, another opener Parthiv Patel then controlled the innings with an important partnership with AB de Villiers. They put a 55-run partnership for the second wicket.
But once that partnership was broken, RCB faced a batting collapse. Parthiv was dismissed on 33 runs while AB (53 runs off 35 balls) departed after completing his half-century.
Next batsmen failed to put at least some fights as only the lower-order batsmen Tim Southee (14 runs) and Mohammed Siraj (14 runs) reached the double-digit score. As a result, RCB was bundled out for just 134 runs in 19.2 overs while they were once 75/1 in 8.2 overs.
Among the RR bowlers, Shreyas Gopal was the best with the bowling figure of 4-0-16-4. Ben Laughlin (2/15) and Jaydev Unadkat (2/27) got two wickets each while Krishnappa Gowtham (1/6) and Ish Sodhi (1/31) picked up one wicket each.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
#RCB’s loss will end their campaign. #RR will have to still wait for all other results, for their NRR won’t improved as much. #RRvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 19, 2018
RCB are out of Playoff race.
RR can make it if:
a) MI lose to DD and KXIP don't beat CSK by 50+ runs
b) KKR lose to SRH and KXIP don't beat CSK by 50+ runs#RRvRCB #RCBvRR #IPL2018— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) May 19, 2018
In absence of Butler & Stokes, gr8 win for Rajasthan.RCB have moved in fits & starts unconvincingly thru season,cracked under pressure today
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 19, 2018
They had their moments @RCBTweets but one has to say an underwhelming campaign. I will be interested in seeing it Vettori holds on to his coaching role in 2019. @rajasthanroyals without Stokes and Butler this is a huge win.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) May 19, 2018
Oh, #RCB, you are changing things on the points table, but not in a manner we thought you would.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 19, 2018
No Buttler, no Stokes, no worries. #RR
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 19, 2018
RR: We are missing Buttler, Stokes and half of our side is not in form.
RCB be like: We got this, chill bro. pic.twitter.com/PO5RhOH7YT
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 19, 2018
RCB fans watching this match right now…. #RRvsRCB pic.twitter.com/NIGZjjULh1
— Rashi Kakkar (@rashi_kakkar) May 19, 2018
Gopal's spin bowling has stunned RCB dug out. Long faces everywhere. Only de Villiers stands between Rajasthan and victory
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 19, 2018
If #IPL Were Politics, #RCB And #DD Could Form An Alliance And Become Table Toppers With 20 Points. 😂 #RRvRCB #RRvsRCB #KarnatakaFloorTest
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) May 19, 2018
Kohli was dismissed by spinners only twice in last two seasons of the #IPL This #IPL, spinners have dismissed him 8 times…bowled 5 times. Very unlike him… #RRvRCB
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 19, 2018
Good spin bowling in any competition is very pleasing to the eyes . #RRvsRCB
— Shohef Sarang (@SarangShohef) May 19, 2018
RCB fan coming out of coma after 10 years. #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/aDXTQyAizp
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) May 19, 2018
RCB in each IPL season:
2008 – 7th position
2009 – Runners-up
2010 – Playoffs
2011 – Runners-up
2012 – 5th position
2013 – 5th position
2014 – 7th position
2015 – Playoffs
2016 – Runners-up
2017 – 8th position
2018 – 6th/7th position— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 19, 2018
From Winning By 34 Runs To Losing By 30 Runs, Royal Challengers Bangalore Performed Extraordinarily Well Under BJP Rule. 😂😂😂 #RRvRCB #RRvsRCB #KarnatakaFloorTest
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadejaaaa) May 19, 2018
