No Ben Stokes, no Buttler so what? Rajasthan Royals (RR) didn’t have any problem as they knocked out Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) out of the IPL 2018. The win has also ensured RR to stay alive in the tournament and they will now have to see the results of the remaining games of the season with a hope of taking the field in the playoffs’ stage.
Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane who won the toss and chose the brave decision of batting first. Surprisingly, Jofra Archer opened the innings for RR but Umesh Yadav had him for the snack time. However, Rahul Tripathi and Ajinkya Rahane stood firm at the crease to construct the innings.
Tripathi (unbeaten 80 off 58 balls) played a marathon knock from one end to carry his bat through the innings. It was once again Umesh Yadav who injected a double-wicket over by sending back Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson on successive deliveries. But, it was Henrich Klaasen who finally get into his shoes at the right time to give an ample assistance for Rahul Tripathi at the crease. Just when run rate looked like going down Klaasen bring in the impetus which was nicely carried by Krishnappa Gowtham.
In reply to the 165 run-chase, Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel once again opened the innings for RCB. Kohli, who was expected to play a match-winning role has been outsmarted to the brilliance of Krishnappa Gowtham while Shreyas Gopal ran a riot in the middle overs of the RCB innings. Gopal sent Parthiv, Moeen Ali and Colin de Grandhomme in a quick succession to jolt RCB badly.
Though wickets were tumbling at one end, AB de Villiers knocked a brilliant fifty but was also fallen prey to Shreyas Gopal who outfoxed him with a googly while Henrich Klaasen did the rest behind the stumps. Once AB de Villiers walked back, it was a walk in the park for Rajasthan to seal the game.
Here’s how fans on Twitter reacted to the match:
In absence of Butler & Stokes, gr8 win for Rajasthan.RCB have moved in fits & starts unconvincingly thru season,cracked under pressure today
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 19, 2018
Had been that kind of tournament for RCB. 59/9 after the 8 th over. Shreyas Gopal was outstanding and I really feel @rajasthanroyals would be delighted with Tripathi coming good at the top. In this line up, he has to open #RRvRCB
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 19, 2018
#RCB’s loss will end their campaign. #RR will have to still wait for all other results, for their NRR won’t improved as much. #RRvRCB #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 19, 2018
End of #EeSaalaCupNamde
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 19, 2018
Not enough application by the batsmen, the bowlers didn't show enough cutting edge in an all important game.#RRvRCB #PlayBold #RCB pic.twitter.com/hVuPIxGwEA
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) May 19, 2018
#HallaBol stay in #VivoIPL play-off contention, but #RCB are OUT as @RajasthanRoyals win by 30 runs in Jaipur. https://t.co/jIVHXrqBDo pic.twitter.com/9UD0BeyNSL
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 19, 2018
And… that's the end of @RCBTweets for 2018. #RRvRCB
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) May 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/KaranArjunSm/status/997840185525141505
RCB trying to improve the NRR but end up losing the match. #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/x3GQX1LFzj
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) May 19, 2018
RCB in each IPL season:
2008 – 7th position
2009 – Runners-up
2010 – Playoffs
2011 – Runners-up
2012 – 5th position
2013 – 5th position
2014 – 7th position
2015 – Playoffs
2016 – Runners-up
2017 – 8th position
2018 – 6th/7th position— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 19, 2018
What a spell shreyas. #shreyasgopal #topstuff 🔥🔥
— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) May 19, 2018
RCB fan coming out of coma after 10 years. #RRvRCB pic.twitter.com/aDXTQyAizp
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 19, 2018
#RRvRCB reality pic.twitter.com/x9ExXC8OQY
— d# (@ambertonic_) May 19, 2018
AB de Villiers was the lone performer for RCB with the bat today!#RRvRCB #RCBvRR #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/UvrHt01tjw
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 19, 2018
A majestic meltdown from #RCB, and a right Royal knees up for #Rajasthan Kohli’s men bridesmaids again.. #RRvsRCB
— mark butcher (@markbutcher72) May 19, 2018
Rajasthan Royals beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 30 Runs #RRvRCB #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/ba4GpAuHfz
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) May 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/TiimesHow/status/997839558799605761
What a spell from Shreyas Gopal 🤗#IPL2018 #RRvRCB #RCBvRR pic.twitter.com/YMrnWVDWyQ
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/Thelios/status/997838971102253056
https://twitter.com/iam_za1d/status/997835076002988032