RC Bangalore thump Rajasthan to reach second qualifier

Sudhir Gupta 06:40 21/05/2015
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  • In command: Kohli and Chahal celebrate.

    Royal Challengers Bangalore turned in a strong display on Wednesday night to thrash Rajasthan Royals by 71 runs and emerge as strong contenders for the title. Such was Bangalore’s dominance in the Eliminator in Pune that captain Virat Kohli was already eyeing a place in the final.

    Bangalore’s victory takes them to Ranchi where they will face Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier on Friday, with the winner progressing to the summit clash against Mumbai Indians. Mumbai were the first to enter the final following their 27-run victory over Chennai in the first qualifier on Tuesday. 

    Barring a minor blip when they lost openers Chris Gayle (27 off 26 balls) and Kohli (12) in quick succession, Bangalore were always in control.

    AB de Villiers (66 of 38 balls) and Mandeep Singh (54 not out off 34 balls) were the batting heroes as they raised 113 runs in 11.1 overs to power Bangalore to 180-4.

    Their bowling pack then hunted down the rival batsmen with their discipline on a slow Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium pitch dismissing them for 109 in 19 overs.

    Only opener Ajinkya Rahane (42 in 39 balls) put up some resistance as the rest of the Rajasthan batsmen floundered with pacers Sreenath Aravind (2-20), Harshal Patel (2-15), David Wiese (2-22) and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2-20) sharing the spoils.

    Defiant loser: Rahane.

    Kohli felt Bangalore’s display this season has been the best in recent times. Bangalore have made it to the play-offs only three times before, faltering in the final twice (2009 and 2011). In 2010, they had to be content with the third place.

    They continued to struggle, finishing fifth twice (2012 and 2013) and seventh last year, before coming good in IPL8.

    “We have played better cricket than previous seasons,” said Kohli. “In 2013 we did not qualify and that hurt. I am really, really happy as a skipper. Eventually it comes down to two games and the boys are really looking forward to the final.”

    The camaraderie in the squad was evident when de Villiers gave his man of the match award to Mandeep in appreciation of the 23-year-old’s innings.

    “A lot of credit should go to Mandeep for the way he played. He helped me get a bit of momentum and it paid off,” de Villiers said. “To be very honest, I didn’t play very well today. It was not as fluent a knock as I wanted it to be but I guess it all comes with experience.

    “I struggled in the first few overs but I fought it through and I was lucky to be there in the end to express myself.”

    Mandeep hit seven fours and two sixes in his best display of the season while de Villiers smashed four sixes and four fours.

    Rajasthan skipper Steven Smith admitted they were not up to the mark last night as they crashed to their lowest total this year.

    “I think a fair bit went wrong for us today. We started well, but it got away in the middle and end,” he said.

    Rajasthan started their campaign in brilliant fashion notching up five straight victories but rarely got their act right in their next 10 games, winning just two with two washouts.

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