Royal Challengers eliminate Super Giants to move forward in IPL
Royal Challengers Bangalore proceed to Qualifier 2 in the Indian Premier League after eliminating newcomers to the league, the Lucknow Super Giants.
Heading into the playoffs, Lucknow Super Giants were only pitted against teams they had not been able to defeat in the league stage. Royal Challengers Bangalore ensured it would remain this way, knocking out the new team in their first ever IPL eliminator.
Rajat Patidar, a Royal Challengers regular who was let go this year, came in mid-season as cover for an injury, and managed to score a sensational unbeaten 112 off 54 to propel the team into the second Qualifier.
This score was supported by his teammate Rajat Patidar, who scored 40 off 14 balls before being dropped in the 16th over.
Lucknow Super Giants suffered due to a few dropped catches and an 84 in the last five overs which they were unable to surpass.
Super Giants Captain KL Rahul displayed some impressive innings, reaching 99 off seven overs, and his jump from 48 off 42 to 79 off 58 proved to be not enough.
For two more overs, Super Giants managed to stay abreast with the asking rate, bringing it down to 41 off the last three. They were still ahead of where Royal Challengers were at that stage.
However, Royal Challengers managed to coast to victory, winning the match by 14 runs.
(ESPN Cric Info)
