A Resurgent RCB, Do The Impossible
With just 2 points from 8 games and languishing at the bottom of the table, any recovery whatsoever was difficult to believe and qualification to the playoffs a highly improbable possibility, the one most inconceivable. But RCB made it possible. They won 6 games on the trot and then with destiny playing its part, the other front runners for the playoffs began to stumble here and there. A divine intervention was taking place and with CSK being the last hurdle to surmount, a resurgent RCB spoiled CSK’s party and qualified for the playoffs last night.
RCB set CSK a Tough Ask
It was a driven RCB at the Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru. The rain had dampened the pitch and as the ball began to grip on the red soil, batting was not that easy. Both captain Faf du Plesis (54 of 39 balls) and Virat (47 of 29 balls) stitched an important partnership of 78 runs to lay a strong foundation for the rest of the batters. The return of form of Rajat Patidar has been a huge plus for RCB in the past 7 games and he again alongwith quick cameos from Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik and Cameroon Green, ensured that RCB had put up 218 on the board, with CSK requiring 201 to make it the playoffs. A tough ask it was and an exhilarating chase was in the offing.
CSK lose Gaikwad First Ball
Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK’s batting main stay was out first ball, scalped by Maxwell. The Maverick Australian had dealt a severe blow to CSK. The pitch had still a lot to offer for the spinners and off pace bowling with slow cutters was difficult to get away. Rachin Ravindra batted beautifully for his 61 before a terrible mix up with Shivam Dubey led to his run-out and the game changed completely from that point. Shivam Dubey who had been striking so clean struggled to get the ball away and eventually holed out. Mitch Santner walked into bat and then came the play of the day for me.
A Faf Special : My Play of the Day
I jumped out of my chair literally. Santner dispatched a full toss from Siraj over mid-off. The ball was traveling and ascending, but Faf stationed at mid-off took a few steps back with his eyes firmly on the flight of the ball and leapt in the air, catching the ball in its flight with his right hand stretched to the maximum. It was a stunning sight. A catch extra-ordinary. Faf had showcased his fitness, his agility and his presence of mind. His timing of the jump was exceptional. What a sight it was. The best catch of the tournament by far.
A Jadeja Fight Back..But Redemption for Yash Dayal
CSK were stunned, but Jadeja continued to fight and with MS Dhoni in company anything was possible. With 17 runs required of the last over to qualify for the playoffs, the match was in the balance. Yash Dayal, who last year suffered a nightmare after being hit for 5 sixes by Rinku Singh had a great chance of redemption, when he came up to bowl the last over. MSD hit the first ball for a 110 m six, and it appeared as if Yash Dayal’s horrors had come back to haunt him. He bowled a slowish back of the hand ball once again. This one stuck in the surface a tad longer and MSD mistimed the pull to be caught at deep square leg. The back of the hand ball was working for Yash Dayal as Shardul Thakur scored 1 of the next 2 balls and then it was left to Jadeja to score 10 of the last 2 deliveries. But Jadeja missed both deliveries and RCB knocked out CSK. Yash Dayal had blown away the bad memories from last year and had redeemed himself with distinction. It was a class act from him. He showed unflinching composure and secured his team’s playoff position. It was pandemonium all around. The improbable had been made possible.
A T20 Classic
A sombre looking MSD left the dugout as RCB players rejoiced in the milee with some getting emotional too. A T20 Classic it was, perfectly scripting the vagaries of Cricket. Faf with his vital Half century, a more than stunning catch ( I just kept thinking about it ) and his captaincy, inspired his team no end. However, the day belonged to Yash Dayal as he laid his demons to rest and crafted a victory for his Team.
What a Match !!…worth sacrificing sleep for.
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Featured Image : RCB Players Rejoice.