IPL 2024: RCB beat DC to claim fifth consecutive win
Royal Challengers Bengaluru continue their winning streak in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. They beat Delhi Capitals in Match 62 of IPL 2024 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The Royal Challengers successfully defended 187, bowling DC out for 140. A 52-run knock from Rajat Patidar laid `the foundation for RCB's win. They have now won five successive matches in IPL 2024.
RCB falter in death overs, reach 187/9
Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli departed early after RCB were invited to bat. Patidar launched his counter-attack, lifting RCB up from 36/2. He propelled them past 120 alongside Will Jacks. RCB lost Patidar (52) and Jacks (41) in quick succession, Khaleel Ahmed dismissed Mahipal Lomror and Karthik in the same over to power DC. Cameron Green's unbeaten 32(24) marched RCB to 187/9.
DC fall short despite Axar's knock
RCB were on fire as they sent back DC's David Warner, Abishek Porel, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Kumar Kushagra (30/4) inside the Powerplay. Swapnil Singh, Yash Dayal, and Mohammed Siraj did the damage. The run-out of Tristan Stubbs brought down DC to 90/6. Axar, who led DC in place of Rishabh Pant, was their lone warrior. DC were restricted to 140 despite Axar's 57(39).
Patidar marches RCB forward
Patidar started his innings with an endearing cover drive. The right-hander anchored the RCB innings with a 52-run knock off 32 balls, a knock laced with 3 fours and 3 sixes. He was dropped twice during the innings. Patidar was finally dismissed by Rasikh Salam in the 13th over. The wicket came against the run of play as RCB were cruising at 124/3.
Patidar smashes his fifth half-century of IPL 2024
Patidar raced to his fifth half-century of the ongoing IPL season. His other 50+ scores in the season read 55 vs PBKS, 50 vs SRH, 52 vs KKR, and 50 vs MI. Overall, Patidar slammed his seventh half-century in the IPL. He now has 724 runs from 25 IPL encounters at a strike rate of 158.08. His tally also includes a ton.
18th duck for Karthik
The Royal Challengers missed the 200-run mark as their finisher Dinesh Karthik couldn't fire at the death. Karthik recorded his 18th duck in the IPL, now the most by a batter. Karthik, who has represented a host of franchises, broke a tie with Glenn Maxwell and Rohit Sharma (17 ducks each). Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine follow the duo, with 16 ducks each.
Du Plessis completes 4,500 runs in IPL
RCB captain Faf du Plessis has completed 4,500 runs in the IPL. The veteran T20 ace got to the milestone with his sixth run. Playing his 143rd IPL match, du Plessis managed six runs from seven balls. Delhi Capitals pacer Mukesh Kumar dismissed the former. Du Plessis became the 13th batter and the fourth overseas player with 4,500 IPL runs.
DC lose despite Axar's exploits
Axar came to the middle after DC were in spot of bother at 30/4 in the fourth over. He kept the Capitals afloat despite losing Shai Hope and Stubbs before the 100-run mark. Axar single-handedly took DC past 120, but Yash Dayal ended his stay in the 16th over. The former smashed a 39-ball 57 (5 fours and 3 sixes).
Axar becomes second player with this feat
Axar has become only the second player with a 50-plus score for DC on captaincy debut. According to Cricbuzz, Shreyas Iyer was the first player to reach this landmark. He smashed an unbeaten 93 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2018 encounter in Delhi. DC, who were Delhi Daredevils back then, won that match by 55 runs.
Dayal takes his career-best IPL figures
RCB reduced DC to 24/3 after removing the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk. Hope struck a straight drive off Dayal, with the ball brushing the latter's fingers before hitting the stumps at non-striker's end. Fraser-McGurk fell short of his crease, which resulted in an unfortunate dismissal. Dayal later dismissed Axar and Kuldeep Yadav. He conceded 20 runs in 3.1 overs. He recorded his career-best IPL figures.
A look at other notable numbers
RCB are now unbeaten in five matches, the fourth instance of them winning five consecutive games in a season. As per Cricbuzz, 140/10 is the lowest innings score for DC and the lowest against RCB in IPL 2024. It is worth noting that veteran seamer Ishant Sharma has dismissed Kohli for the first time in the IPL.
IPL 2024 standings: RCB go past DC and LSG
RCB have surpassed DC and Lucknow Super Giants to occupy the fifth spot in the IPL 2024 standings. Both RCB and DC have 12 points with one match to go. RCB's final league-stage match is against Chennai Super Kings.
