RCB hope alive for Playoffs with the win over DC. © iplt20.com
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) continued their resurgence in IPL 2024 with a convincing 47-run victory over the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This win not only keeps their playoff hopes alive but also moves them up to fifth place on the points table, just ahead of DC, who have a lower net run rate.
Early Jitters for RCB
The Bangalore crowd witnessed a tense start as RCB lost their big guns, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, inside the powerplay. Whispers of their batting woes from the season’s beginning started doing the rounds. However, young guns Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar silenced the doubters with a crucial counter-attacking partnership.
Patidar and Jacks Bail Out RCB
Patidar, who had struggled against pace earlier in the season, surprised everyone by taking charge against the DC bowlers. He raced to a quickfire 52 off just 32 balls while Jacks played his part with some clean hitting. He scored 41 runs on 29 balls—the pair combined forces to construct an 88-run partnership, providing a solid foundation for the RCB innings.
DC Fightback But Fall Short
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, RCB managed to reach a defendable total of 187/9 thanks to cameos from Mahipal Lomror and Cameron Green. DC bowlers, especially Khaleel Ahmed 2/31 (4) and Rasikh Salam 2/23 (3), pulled things back in the death overs, restricting the flow of runs.
Axar’s Heroics Go in Vain
Chasing 188 for victory, DC’s batting order crumbled under pressure. A bizarre run-out for their explosive opener, Jake Fraser-McGurk, 21 runs of just 8 balls, set the tone for a disastrous start. Only Axar Patel, leading DC for the first time, showed some fight with a lone-warrior fifty 57 runs on 39 balls. However, the lack of support from other batters meant the target was always out of reach.
RCB Bowlers Tighten the Screws
The RCB bowlers displayed excellent discipline, particularly in the middle overs. They focused on bowling good-length deliveries, not allowing DC batters any easy scoring opportunities. Yash Dayal was the pick of the RCB bowlers, picking up three crucial wickets.
Green’s All-Round performance Earn Player of the Match Award
Cameron Green’s all-round performance (32 runs and 1 wicket) earned him the Player of the Match award. Cameron Green’s crucial late-inning knock and tidy bowling spell epitomized RCB’s fighting spirit throughout the match.
This win is a significant confidence booster for RCB as they continue their push for a playoff berth. They will need to maintain this winning momentum in their upcoming matches. For DC, this loss is a setback, but they are still very much in contention for a playoff spot. They must work on improving their batting and figure out how to manage in the absence of key players.
Match Summary
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 187/9 (20) | |
| Rajat Patidar 52 (32) | Rasikh Salam |
| Will Jacks 41 (29) | Khaleel Ahmed |
| Cameron Green 32 (24) | Mukesh Kumar |
Delhi Capitals 140 (19.1) | |
| Axar Patel 57 (39) | Yash Dayal |
| Shai Hope 29 (23) | Lockie Ferguson |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk 21 (8) | Swapnil Singh |
Toss: DC won the toss and decided elected to bowl
Stadium: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
Result: RCB won by 47 runs
Player of the Match: Cameron Green (RCB) – 32 (24) & 1/19 (4)
