Bengaluru, Royal Challengers Bangalore clinched the fourth and final play-off spot in the Indian Premier League by defeating defending champions Chenna Super Kings by 27 runs here on Saturday.
Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad had already qualified for the play-offs.
RCB, who came to bat, made a challenging score of 218 runs for five wickets against CSK and will have to win at any cost.
After the match was interrupted for some time due to rain at the end of the third over, captain Faf du Plessis (54) and Virat Kohli (47) made a partnership of 78 runs in 9.4 overs for the first wicket.
Rajat Patidar, who came to bat at number 3, scored 41 runs in 23 balls and made a partnership of 71 runs for the second wicket with Cameron Green (38 not out on 17 balls) to keep the momentum intact.
In the end, Dinesh Karthik (14 off 6) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off 5) played short cameos to lift RCB.
Even if CSK lost, it needed 201 runs to reach the playoffs due to better run rate, but could only score 191 runs for 7 wickets.
Rachin Ravindra scored 61 runs in 37 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane scored unbeaten 42 and 33 runs respectively.
Finally, the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who could possibly be playing his last IPL match, smashed 25 off 13 balls. But it was not enough.
Yash Dayal maintained his composure in the last over and returned with figures of 2/42 for RCB.
Brief Score:
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 218 for 5 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 54, Veera Kohli 47; Shardul Thakur 2/61).
Chennai Super Kings: 191 for 7 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 61, Ravindra Jadeja 42 not out; Yash Dayal 2/42).
Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad had already qualified for the play-offs.
RCB, who came to bat, made a challenging score of 218 runs for five wickets against CSK and will have to win at any cost.
After the match was interrupted for some time due to rain at the end of the third over, captain Faf du Plessis (54) and Virat Kohli (47) made a partnership of 78 runs in 9.4 overs for the first wicket.
Rajat Patidar, who came to bat at number 3, scored 41 runs in 23 balls and made a partnership of 71 runs for the second wicket with Cameron Green (38 not out on 17 balls) to keep the momentum intact.
In the end, Dinesh Karthik (14 off 6) and Glenn Maxwell (16 off 5) played short cameos to lift RCB.
Even if CSK lost, it needed 201 runs to reach the playoffs due to better run rate, but could only score 191 runs for 7 wickets.
Rachin Ravindra scored 61 runs in 37 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane scored unbeaten 42 and 33 runs respectively.
Finally, the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who could possibly be playing his last IPL match, smashed 25 off 13 balls. But it was not enough.
Yash Dayal maintained his composure in the last over and returned with figures of 2/42 for RCB.
Brief Score:
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 218 for 5 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 54, Veera Kohli 47; Shardul Thakur 2/61).
Chennai Super Kings: 191 for 7 in 20 overs (Rachin Ravindra 61, Ravindra Jadeja 42 not out; Yash Dayal 2/42).
