RCB rout Royals for 59 to keep playoff hopes alive
Rajasthan Royals suffered a catastrophic collapse and were dismissed in 10.3 overs in Jaipur
Rajasthan Royals suffered a catastrophic collapse and were dismissed in 10.3 overs in Jaipur
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
6:47pm Right. That will be that from us for this game. The action in the IPL, though, comes thick and fast. In a little less than an hour, CSK will take on KKR, with KKR in a must-win situation. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Thilak, Vairavan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo! Goobye and take care!
Wayne Parnell, Player of the Match: I think credit goes to our batters. That last over really brought momentum to our side. We understood what was needed and to execute the way we did was really pleasing. All of our batters had the same message - take the pace of it and hit the stumps. To win by a big margin is also crucial for us. (On going around the wicket to Samson) It was a similar surface to back in Paarl. I was trying to bowl at the stumps and make the batters go across the line. It is a long tournament, niggles occur, it is about being switched on every single day.
Faf du Plessis, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain: (On the game) It was really good. We needed it, in terms of the NRR. It was a really difficult pitch when we batted first. Even in the powerplay, the ball was keeping low and we felt that 160 would be a good score. Those hits towards the end pushed us to a very good score. We have not quite managed to do it (finish off strongly) well. If you get it, everyone's shoulders are out, you are ready, so it is really important. That (setting the intensity high) is a non-negotiable for us. Everyone celebrating with real passion, that is very nice to see. (On the remaining games) Hopefully we can set it up for that last game against GT at the Chinnaswamy. Today was really good for the team and I am sure everyone will be extremely motivated for the next two matches.
For all of you wondering, RCB, courtesy of this win, now boast a better NRR than RR. This is how the points table looks like, after Match 60.
Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals captain: (On the batting performance) We usually go hard in the powerplay but that did not quite happen today. It will take some time to assess our display. That is the nature of T20 cricket, you have to go hard in the powerplay, knowing that the wicket will slow down. Today, it did not work out. Credit has to go out to the RCB bowlers and their teammates. Their energy was great and they really wanted to win this game. (On the score) That could have gone to the wire, it could have been a tight match if we had a decent powerplay. I felt that was a par score on this wicket. (On the second half of the campaign) That is a great question actually. I was thinking about it and where it went wrong. Sorry, I do not have an answer for that. We all know the nature of the IPL. We know things can change in a couple of days. Funny, funny things happen at the end of the league stages. We have to be strong, be professional and think about the game we are playing in Dharamsala. You have to keep your hopes high and try your best. (On trying to bat out the innings) There are a lot of different ways to look at it (in hindsight). The people out there might have thought the game was still in their hands and I think you cannot blame them the way they batted. We have to take responsibility as a team.
Michael Bracewell: It was nice to get those two points. Very valuable in this competition. For me to come back, and contribute to the win was nice. (On the pressure of the big game) We have great support staff here and you feel very included even if you are not in the playing eleven. I was just trying to stay up to speed as much as I could. (On the Rawat cameo) That was a massive innings. It was a difficult innings to get going on, and it gave us all the momentum going into the second innings. The way our bowlers started was spectacular as well. Our top three did all the dirty work to build a foundation for Anuj to capitalize at the end. I try to not get too caught up with the highs and lows of the game and just take it ball-by-ball. Two more must-win games and we are trying to take it game by game. As a group, we thrive under this sort of pressure, of having to win and having the tournament on the line.
6:22pm Phew, it will take everyone, including me, RR and RCB some time to make sense of what has just unfolded. RCB got off to the perfect start, removing Jaiswal in the first over. Buttler and Samson followed soon after and once that happened, RR were always chasing the game. But despite that, the way they fell apart, losing five wickets in the powerplay and eventually crumbling to the third-lowest score ever in the IPL, was alarming. The defeat will hurt but the margin of victory means that their NRR has also taken a massive hit, and with just one game remaining, RR are now dependent on other results going their way.
As for RCB, well, everything that could have gone right for them went right. Siraj was superb in the powerplay, as was Parnell, who came in to replace Hazlewood. Their spinners then cleaned up the lower order and their NRR has now gone into the positive. With two games still to come, RCB have more than a chance of getting to 16 points and making it to the playoffs.
KM Asif c Kohli b Sharma 0 (3m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Asif is the last batter in
Afeef: "RR have gone past their own lowest total of 58, vs RCB in 2009" -- Ahh, finally some solace for RR...
A Zampa b Sharma 2 (10m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Sandeep in at 10
SO Hetmyer c Bracewell b Maxwell 35 (28m 19b 1x4 4x6) SR: 184.21
The RCB batter was a class above on a slow pitch and his pyrotechnics had a direct line to the Royals collapse
Stats highlights from RCB's thumping 112-run victory against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur
RCB captain Faf du Plessis pleased with confidence-boosting victory on a "really difficult pitch"
Rajasthan Royals suffered a catastrophic collapse and were dismissed in 10.3 overs in Jaipur
Royal Challengers come into the game on the back of two defeats, while Royals stopped a losing streak in their last match