Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerged on the proper facet of a capricious Indian Premier League match because it pipped Chennai Super Kings by two runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday (May 3, 2025).
Chasing a Romario Shepherd-powered goal of 214, CSK wanted 15 off the final over with Ravindra Jadeja and M.S. Dhoni at the crease.
Dayal the hero once more
However, Yash Dayal – additionally the hero in the identical fixture final yr – dismissed Dhoni and survived a monstrous six off a no-ball from Impact Player Shivam Dube to trend a win for his facet.
For important durations, CSK had the chase below management. The teenaged expertise of Ayush Mhatre blossomed (94, 48b, 9×4, 5×6), and the 17-year-old mixed for a wonderful 114-run stand (64 balls) for the third wicket with Jadeja (77 n.o., 45b, 8×4, 2×6).
But with 43 wanted from 24 balls, Lungi Ngidi dismissed Mhatre and Dewald Brevis consecutively to deliver RCB again in. Jadeja was dropped twice, together with by the often dependable Virat Kohli in the nineteenth over off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, however RCB held on and ensured that the absence of the injured Josh Hazlewood wouldn’t show pricey.
Earlier, after dropping yet one more toss at house, the RCB innings went by a boom-bust-boom cycle. Jacob Bethell (55, 33b, 8×4, 2×6) and Kohli (62, 33b, 5×4, 5×6) placed on 97 golden runs for the opening wicket.
Kohli’s 62nd IPL fifty had his trademark flicks and drives whereas the promising Bethell, who changed Phil Salt for a second straight sport, introduced up his maiden IPL fifty (55, 33b, 8×4, 2×6).
But left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad (4-0-26-1) and Matheesha Pathirana (4-0-36-3) introduced CSK again by limiting RCB to 159 for 5 after 18 overs.
When all hopes of a aggressive rating for RCB appeared to relaxation on Tim David’s bludgeoning blade, welcomed as he was by a thunderous applause from the crowd, it was Shepherd who stole the present with a stunning 14-ball unbeaten 53 (4×4, 6×6).
The Guyanese plundered 32 runs off an already-expensive Khaleel Ahmed in the nineteenth over earlier than smashing Pathirana for 20 in the final.
The 30-year-old didn’t center each ball however swung the bat like an almighty axe, and it was his brute energy that carried the ball lengthy distances. By the seems of it, it would simply have carried RCB into the playoffs too.
Published – May 03, 2025 07:29 pm IST
