Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday but it didn’t prevent the defending champions from finishing on top of the table.
Three teams — RCB, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers — finished on 18 points but RCB (0.783) topped the charts by virtue of a better net run-rate followed by Titans (0.695) and the Sunrisers (0.524). The last berth for the playoffs will be a fight between Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, KKR and Delhi Capitals.
The top two will meet in Qualifier 1 with the winner getting a direct entry into the final on May 31. The loser will get another shot at making the final by taking on the winner of the Eliminator.
RCB started the 256-run chase in style with Venkatesh Iyer smashing a 19-ball 44 with four boundaries and as many sixes. Virat Kohli’s early dismissal didn’t make much impact as RCB were content with reaching the magic 166 mark to ensure a top-2 finish.
Rajat Patidar scored a sedate half-century and had Krunal Pandya for company, who was 41 not out. The duo ensured RCB first cemented the top-two spot, and then the top position even if they crawled to 200/4 in their 20 overs, losing by 55 runs.
Kohli became the most capped played in IPL when he overtook Rohit Sharma’s 280 appearances.
Calculated attack
Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar had been RCB’s main bowlers in this edition but the Sunrisers top-order’s calculated attack on Friday left them in disarray.
With the pitch offering little help, RCB rode attacking knocks from Abhishek Sharma (56 off 22), Ishan Kishan (79 off 46) and Heinrich Klaasen (51 off 24) to reach 255/4. An unbeaten 29 off 12 balls from Nitish Kumar Reddy also provided the impetus towards the closing stages of the innings.
While Hazlewood gave away 55 runs, Bhuvneshwar went for 51 from his four overs. Abhishek and Travis Head started the onslaught before Ishan and Klaasen took over.
Sunrisers knew both RCB’s new-ball bowlers could make early dents to rattle them and so went on the offensive. Abhishek rode his luck, having survived three chances on 25, 32 and 39 before giving the innings momentum.
