Here we are now. Just the four playoffs games to go this IPL. It will hardly matter who did what in the earlier rounds; now it'll only be about which side is better on the day. One thing is certain, though: one of the finalists will be a side which has never won the IPL before, as PBKS and RCB meet in Qualifier 1. Thankfully, that game is two days away - because after the rollercoaster tonight, we'll all need a breather. So let's remain patient, before the action shifts to New Chandigarh. Until then, goodnight and goodbye!
Jitesh Sharma is the Player of the Match: "I will not be able to express my thoughts! I can't believe I played that knock. When Virat bhai was out, I was just thinking of taking it deep. As my mentor and guru Dinesh [Karthik] anna says, just take it deep. I was getting cramps because all the load was on me! I have Virat bhai, Krunal bhai and Bhuvi bhai with me. I feel excited that I'm playing with them. We want to enjoy the moment. But we'll try to recover well. We'll look to carry the momentum into the next match. Credit goes to Rajat. I had the responsibility of maintaining his record. Hazlewood will perhaps play in the knockout. We have a strong belief system. We have match winners. Look at our playing XI, and we have match winners."
Time for the presentations
Sri: "Nuwan Tushara's spell is the difference!!"
Mayank Agarwal: "There's very less talking to do. I just had to give him the strike. Jitesh just put on a show. There are no words to describe what he did. We were just calculating. We knew Digvesh had one over. So we were like, if we could get 10 off him. The wicket was good to target the fast bowlers. Jitesh just did what he had to. It builds a lot of confidence and momentum... we couldn't do it last game. When I came in, we had lost two quick wickets. It was good that Virat and me could get quick runs going at that time. Then it was about one batsman batting through. I'm glad we took them down."
Rishabh Pant: "Eventually you've got to play 40 overs of good cricket. Twenty overs aren't going to save you. I was feeling well with each and every match. But sometimes it just doesn't come off. Whenever you get a start, try to make it as big as possible. I was trying to play the field - how they were going to bowl Just playing through the line. Just kept on playing with the same intensity throughout the innings. There will be lot of areas where we will be talking. But the season is just ending. Just want to switch off for a few days. The way our batting unit has come up, there have been some special bowling performances also. We've been getting chances, but we haven't been able to maintain. That is costing us the match."
11.40pm It was all worth the wait. Seventy games into the tournament, we didn't know who the top three teams will be. Just above four hours later, we realise what can be possible even when teams and individuals are pushed against the wall. A chase of 228 is completed with eight balls to spare in what was a must-win game for RCB if they wanted to have two shots at the final. A stand-in captain stepped up to thrash the bowling, and on the way, enjoyed some luck which he perhaps deserved. What if that attempted run-out backing up at the non-striker's end was given out? What if he wasn't caught off a no-ball? In the end, it was all meant to be, you'd think. RCB were meant to be in the top two, having won all seven of their away games. It'll take a while for this to sink in, as RCB now begin to dream of going even further.
Around the wicket
RCB just need another seven runs to win. Here's Badoni.
END OF OVER:18 | 21 Runs | RCB: 221/4 (7 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 12.27, RRR: 3.50)
- Jitesh Sharma77 (30b)
- Mayank Agarwal40 (22b)
- Will O’Rourke4-0-74-2
- Digvesh Rathi4-0-36-0
There's a change of ball, and LSG bring O'Rourke back.
END OF OVER:17 | 11 Runs | RCB: 200/4 (28 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 11.76, RRR: 9.33)
- Mayank Agarwal39 (21b)
- Jitesh Sharma57 (25b)
- Digvesh Rathi4-0-36-0
- Avesh Khan3-0-32-1
He's about to deliver, but then clips the stumps at his end. He appeals for run-out, and it goes to the third umpire. Wow, the stumps are broken with Jitesh well outside the crease!! But wait, it's given as not out! And we know why - because of the release point. Pant even asked for the appeal to be withdrawn!
Over the stumps now
DDN: "A captain's knock!"
Free hit
Here's Rathi from around the wicket. Jitesh on 49.
Four overs to go. RCB need only another 39. LSG need back-to-back wickets, or even more.
