Rajat Patidar slams maiden century as RCB storm past LSG in Eliminator

After losing the IPL eliminator in each of the last two seasons, the Royal Challengers Bangalore finally broke that streak in 2022 as they beat the Lucknow Super Giants by 14 runs in a high-scoring contest at the Eden Gardens. Rajat Patidar’s magical unbeaten 112 off 54 deliveries helped RCB put on a commanding 207 for 4 with the bat, while Harshal Patel’s incredible spell of 1 for 25 closed out the win at the death and booked their spot in Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad.

Following a 45-minute rain delay, Lucknow started on the front foot after putting RCB in to bat, with Mohsin Khan nicking off Faf du Plessis for a golden duck. Fresh from his half-century against Gujarat, Virat Kohli began cautiously as Bangalore managed just a run a ball in the first four overs. The acceleration started in the fifth over, with Rajat Patidar lacing Avesh Khan for a couple of boundaries before creaming Krunal Pandya for three fours and a six to take RCB to 52 for one at the end of the powerplay.

Patidar continued to go after the Lucknow bowling attack through the middle overs, but RCB’s established stars didn’t enjoy the same success as Virat Kohli holed out to deep third man against Avesh Khan and Glenn Maxwell found the fielder at square leg.

Patidar notched up his 50 in 28 deliveries and ensured RCB didn’t lose momentum after the two quick wickets as 16 runs came from the 11th over from Dushmantha Chameera. Lucknow hit back by removing Mahipal Lomror, but their sloppiness in the field cost them at the death as Dinesh Karthik and Rajat Patidar were dropped three times in the final six overs. The RCB pair made the Super Giants pay for these missed chances as they smashed an incredible 84 runs in the last five overs. Patidar plundered five boundaries in a 27-run 16th over from Ravi Bishnoi and brought up his century with a six off Mohsin Khan, while Dinesh Karthik finished with 37 of 23 to take RCB to 207.

In response, Lucknow lost Quinton de Kock in the first over of the innings but were still able to put on 64 runs in the powerplay as Manan Vohra and KL Rahul went after the pacers. The Super Giants struggled to maintain that acceleration through overs 7 to 13 – which went for just 47 runs – but they finally got a move on in the 14th over bowled by Josh Hazlewood, which went for 16 runs. Deepak Hooda muscled two leg-side sixes against Wanindu Hasaranga in the 15th before losing his stumps while looking for a third. New batter Marcus Stoinis and KL Rahul manufactured some boundaries to keep LSG in touch with the asking rate with 18 balls to go, but Harshal Patel conceded just eight runs off the 18th over before Josh Hazlewood dismissed KL Rahul to seal the victory and send RCB into the second qualifier.