Kolkata: Riding on Rajat Patidar's maiden t20 ton and some superb death overs from the bowers, Royal Challengers Bangalore ended Lucknow Super Giants' dream run with a 14-run win in the IPL eliminator at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.
Patidar struck a scintillating unbeaten knock of 112 and partnered Dinesh Karthik to an unconquered 42-ball 92-run partnership on way to posting a huge 207/4. In reply, LSG could manage 193/6.
RCB bowlers Harshal Patel and Josh Hazelwood kept a tight leash on the LSG batters in the death overs thus contributing well to their side's victory.in front of 58,800 fans at Eden Gardens.
Speedster Hazelwood took three wickets conceding 43 runs and Harshal Patel took one scalp while conceding only 25 runs in his four overs.
LSG captain K L Rahul, who was in brilliant form, scored 79 from 58 balls with three boundaries and five sixes, but that was not enough in the absence of support from the other end.
Rahul departed in the penultimate over, by scooping Hazelwood into the hands of Shahbaz Ahmed in the short fine, which triggered celebrations in the Bangalore camp.
Earlier, RCB came roaring back after the initial hiccup caused by the opening over exit of captain Faf du Plesis (0),and in a late charge went past the psychologically important 200-run mark, thanks to Patidar's maiden T20 ton (112 not out; 54 balls) and Dinesh Kartick's (37 not out; 23 balls) blistering batting.
Patidar’s cracker of a knock included a dozen boundaries and seven sixes. Karthik hit five 4s and a six.
Being sent in to bat after a rain-induced 40-minute delay, RCB received a massive jolt when the promising Mohsin Khan bowled a lovely inswinger that induced a fine edge from Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock was only too glad to latch on to the snick behind the wicket, Patidar and captain Virat Kohli then stitched a 66-run stand in 46 balls before the former India captain played a loose shot of a rising ball and was held at the third man boundary.
Glenn Maxwell was also out cheaply before Patiidar and Karthik took charge.
For Lucknow, Mohsin Khan registered figures of 1/25, but all the other bowlers proved expensive. Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan, and Ravi Bishnoi picked up a wicket each. (UNI)
