Royal Challengers Bangalore sneaked into the play-offs after Mumbai Indians broke Delhi Capitals’ heart with a five-wicket win in their final IPL match here on Saturday.
Already out of contention, MI played spoilsport as they first restricted DC to 159 for 7 with Jasprit Bumrah smashing three wickets and then came back to overhaul the target in 19.1 overs to bowl out the 2020 finalists out of the tournament.
While Ishan Kishan (48) and Dewald Brevis (37) kept MI in the hunt, it was Tim David’s 11-ball 34-run cameo that took the five-time champions back into the chase. Tilak Varma also chipped in with a crucial 21 off 17 balls.
With MI on 95 for 3 in 14.3 overs, DC captain Rishabh Pant made a strategic error by refusing to go for DRS after David put in the first ball of his innings, but the on-field umpire did not leave him out.
It came back to haunt DC when David hit fours and sixes at will to reduce the equation to 15 off 14 balls. Ramandeep then provided the finishing touch with a 13-off six-balls.
DC finished with 14 points to remain in fifth place, while RCB joined Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants in the playoffs with 16 points.
Defending the total, left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed looked in good rhythm as he bowled sensational first two overs, conceding just 2. He bowled completely outside off stump to trouble the openers, mainly Rohit Sharma (2).
Anrich Nortje finally put an end to Rohit’s struggle with the MI skipper staying one to mid-on.
Ishan and Brevis then added 51 runs off 37 balls, but Kuldeep Yadav (1/33) broke the partnership with David Warner by taking a good catch to get rid of the former.
Brevis took on the opposition attack and smashed two sixes and a four off Kuldeep, who could have had it, but captain Pant dropped a sitter in the 12th over to add to the bowler’s agony.
However, Brevis dragged one to his stumps as MI slumped to 95 for 3 in the 15th over.
After that, it was a David show when he hit a deep mid-wicket for six more off Shardul Thakur.
David and Varma connected a four and a six to amass 13 runs from the 16th over onwards. Khaleel then conceded 17 with David smashing a four and a six.
Needing 29 off 18 balls, David hit Shardul for two maximums and also completed the fifty-run stand to reduce the equation to 15 off 13 balls.
Thakur finally removed David, who bowled a full toss to Prithvi Shaw at extra cover, but by then it was too late.
Earlier, opting to field, MI’s bowlers, led by Bumrah (3/25) left DC reeling at 50 for 4 in 8.4 overs, but
Rovman Powell and captain Pant (39 off 33 balls) shared 75 off 44 balls to resurrect the innings and take it to a decent total.
Daniel Sams (1/30) and Riley Meredith (0/9 in 2 overs) bowled well as did the spin duo of Mayank Markande (1/26) and Hrithik Shooken (0/34).
Ramandeep Singh (2/29 in 2 overs) also managed to rip two wickets.
Back after recovering from a bout of typhoid fever, Shaw (24) looked to be in good touch, but Sams produced the first breakthrough when Bumrah trapped Warner at short third man.
Bumrah then turned on the heat when he first found Mitchell Marsh’s outside edge with Rohit taking a low catch and then went back to send Shaw back with an unplayable bouncer.
It was Markande’s time to shine next when Sarfaraz Khan sliced one outside off stump to see DC slip to 50 for four in the ninth over.
With Shokeen and Markande bowling in tandem, DC scored their lowest total at the halfway mark this season – 55 for four.
As Pant dropped anchor, Powell exploded in the 12th, smashing Shokeen for two maximums and four to pick up 20 runs.
Markande was next in line as Powell deposited him over long-on before MI conceded a bye four.
Meredith bowled a tight shot, conceding just two.
Ramandeep then bowled three and conceded a six and a four before taking Pant’s wicket on his final ball.
Powell then removed Bumrah over deep square leg, while Axar Patel (19 not out) produced a timely six against Sams.
However, Bumrah brought out his trademark finger-crushing yorker to disrupt Powell’s rafters and almost had another wicket, only if Brevis had been able to grab a one-handed catch.
Ramandeep took aground in the final over which he gave up 11 runs.
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