Rajasthan Royals defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru, inflicting upon them their first defeat of the season. Rajasthan Royals won by six wickets. The Royals remain unbeaten at the top of the table.
Suryavanshi Shines for Rajasthan
Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued his sensational run in the Indian Premier League with a 15-ball fifty against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Suryavanshi whacked eight fours and seven sixes in a remarkable display of power-hitting before he fell for 78 from 26 balls to set up Royals’ successful chase of 202 with two overs to spare. Suryavanshi is the leading run-scorer in this year’s IPL so far with 200 runs in four innings.
RCB’s bowling attack was boosted by the return of Australia star Josh Hazlewood, making his first appearance of the tournament because of an injury. Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were treated with disdain by Suryavanshi in a brutal partnership of 108 from 37 balls with number three Dhruv Jurel. The pair dominated the powerplay ruthlessly, reaching 97-1, with Suryavanshi reaching his fifty with a six.
It was the joint third-fastest IPL fifty in history and it was the second time he has achieved that feat in this year’s tournament, having also done so against Chennai Super Kings on 30 March. After Suryavanshi was dismissed by spinner Krunal Pandya, the Royals slipped from 129-1 to 134-4, but Jurel expertly controlled the remainder of the chase with a mature innings of 81 not out from 43 balls.
RCB’s Innings
Earlier, Jofra Archer won the battle of the England internationals as he dismissed RCB opener Phil Salt from the first ball of the match, beating him for pace and drawing a top edge to wicketkeeper Jurel. Virat Kohli made a fluent 32 from 16 balls but Royals’ bowlers continued to dominate, as Archer finished with 2-33 and spinner Ravi Bishnoi claimed 2-32, as RCB slumped to 125-7 after 14 overs.
Captain Rajat Patidar led an impressive recovery with his 63 from 40 balls and West Indies’ Romario Shepherd clubbed 22 from 11 as they accelerated at the death. Venkatesh Iyer added a crucial cameo of 29, including 20 from the final over bowled by Sandeep Sharma, to push RCB past 200. Royal Challengers Bengaluru scored 201-8 (20 overs): Patidar 63 (40); Bishnoi 2-32.
Match Summary
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit a 15-ball fifty.
- Suryavanshi is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 200 runs in four innings.
- Rajasthan Royals chased down 202 with two overs to spare.
Jurel and Suryavanshi’s stand took all of RCB’s momentum and helped Royals inflict a first defeat of the season upon RCB.