No fairytale finish for RCB as Rajasthan Royals book IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 berth with comprehensive 4-wicket win

Once again, it was not to be for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). They failed to make it to the Indian Premier League (IPL) final for eighth consecutive year. The celebrations that lasted after six consecutive wins to reach playoffs did not last long. Rajasthan Royals booked their berth in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with a four-wicket in at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on May 22. 
 

Earlier, Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to field first. Trent Boult troubled RCB openers with swing. Virat Kohli hit the first four whereas Faf du Plessis hit the first six of the innings. Avesh Khan was introduced into the attack and he conceded 17 runs in the fourth over. In the fifth over, Rovman Powell's stunning grab helped Boult dismiss Du Plessis. The captain scored 17 runs from 14 balls. Kohli hit a couple of boundaries as RCB had 50/1 on the board after powerplay overs. 

Yuzvendra Chahal got rid of an in-form Kohli. He went for the slogsweep but got caught by substitute fielder Donovan Ferreira on the boundary. After a cautious start, Cameron Green smashed Chahal for a six and two fours. At the halfway stage, RCB were 76/2. Rajat Patidar was given a reprieve as he was dropped by Dhruv Jurel off Ravichandran Ashwin's bowling. In his last four, Ashwin struck twice to dismiss Green and Glenn Maxwell. Green scored 27 runs from 21 balls whereas Maxwell registered a golden duck.

Chahal was taken to the cleaners by Patidar and Mahipal Lomror as they hit a six each in the 14th over. Avesh returned to dismiss Patidar. He scored 34 runs from 22 balls. Lomror contributed with a 17-ball 32 cameo. Avesh dismissed Dinesh Karthik and Lomror in the penultimate over. In the last over, Karn Sharma hit a four whereas Swapnil Singh hit a maximum. On the last ball, Sandeep bagged a wicket. RCB posted 172/8 on the board.

RR's run chase got off to a slow start as Swapnil Singh and Mohammed Siraj bowled well. Du Plessis made a change to introduce Yash Dayal who was hit for two fours by Yashasvi Jaiswal. The RR opener was dropped at first slip by Green at first slip. Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit a few boundaries as well. Maxwell gave him a second chance as he dropped an easy catch at deep square leg. Lockie Ferguson was introduced into the wicket and he bowled a brilliant over to knock over Tom Kohler-Cadmore. The Englishman scored 20 runs from 15 balls. After powerplay overs, RR were 47/1.

Swapnil was brought back into the attack and Samson welcomed him with a six. Jaiswal hit a couple of fours too. In the 10th over, Green got the ball and he delivered with Jaiswal's wicket. The opener scored 45 runs from 30 balls. Then Samson got stumped by Karn as RCB made a comeback. Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag did not let the pressure mount and hit a boundary each. Parag broke the shackles with a six off Ferguson. Amidst Green's economical spell, Jurel got run out by Kohli's sensational throw from the boundary.

The required run rate was climbing up. Shimron Hetmyer who was playing his first game after 20 days hit Green for a six. Parag hit a six and a four in Green's last over. Hetmyer targetted Dayal and hit a couple of fours. In the 18th over, Siraj struck twice to dismiss Parag and Hetmyer. Parag scored 36 runs from 26 balls whereas Hetmyer contributed with a 14-ball 26. In the penultimate over, Powell hit Ferguson for two fours square of the wicket. He finished the run chase with a maximum.

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