RCB VS DC MATCH 62

Right then, we now head into the final week of the group stage of the 2024 Indian T20 League and still, there's just one team that has qualified for the playoffs and that is Kolkata. With three spots still up for grabs and multiple teams in the mix, the final week is expected to be one of the most intriguing ones ever in the history of the competition. The new week kickstarts with a game between Kolkata, the only qualified team and Gujarat up in Ahmedabad. That game will be played on Monday, 13 May and will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Cameron Green is the Player of the Match for his fine all-round display. He says that they have found a bit of form in the last few games and are still in the hunt which is positive. Adds that given the amount of high scores this season, they needed to be concerned in the Powerplay with regards to the bowling and managed to do well. Mentions that when Khaleel was bowling his off-cutters were gripping and bouncing and they hoped that they could also use similar deliveries and ends by saying that given the grounds are small, the bowlers will take all the luck they get.

Faf du Plessis, the captain of Bengaluru starts by saying that it has been an incredible run for them and is really delighted. Adds that it is all about confidence. Mentions that they have been getting 200 runs quite often now and are really enjoying the environment. States that the ball was swinging as well, so you just need to take a punt in the middle. Believes that behind closed doors they are getting things right., and is really happy with the way the trio of seamers are working out. Mentions that they are focused on playing out their style of cricket.

The Presentation ceremony...

Lockie Ferguson is now down for a quick chat. He says that it was similar to the last game and the hard work they have done throughout the season with the ball, is bearing fruits now. Adds that even after a few disappointing games, the support staff kept the group together and they were enjoying their cricket. Reckons that their batters did extremely well as it was gripping more than usual and that made the bowlers' job easier. Says that they are looking forward to the few days off and then that crunch clash against Chennai.

Axar Patel, the stand-in skipper for Delhi starts by saying that they could've been much better in the field. States that whenever you have lost 4 wickets inside the Powerplay then you are always chasing a game. Informs that the run out of two important players was just unlucky for them. Adds that they will shift their focus on the final game and aim to make it count.

Earlier in the game, Delhi opted to bowl first and it was a very entertaining start with a couple of wickets falling and runs galore in the Powerplay. Rajat Patidar played a sublime knock and got back-to-back fifties and Will Jacks too got into the forties. Delhi then roared back with timely wickets and ended much better than expected even after a cameo from Cameron Green and kept the home side under the 190-run mark. Khaleel Ahmed and Rasikh Dar picked up a couple of wickets each while remaining fairly economical for Delhi but in the chase, it was a all-round bowling effort from the home side that got them over the line.

Delhi will be shell-shocked with that loss as a win here would have boosted their chances of making it through to the playoffs a lot but instead, they are now behind Bengaluru in terms of net run rate and are all but out of the race. The top order did disappoint big time and the unfortunate run out of Jake Fraser-McGurk came at a very high cost as well. Shai Hope did well to inject some momentum and Axar Patel stepped up with the bat too but they needed a lot more. An in-form Tristan Stubbs too ran himself out leaving Axar with too much to do. Axar did get a half-century before getting out but Delhi were well beaten in the end.

BENGALURU'S RESURGENCE CONTINUES! A fifth straight win for Bengaluru and all of a sudden, things have got so much more interesting in terms of the points table and this loss will be a body blow for Delhi who now are in the same boat as the home side. With what looked like a slightly under-par score, Bengaluru needed wickets upfront and the bowlers didn't disappoint. They got David Warner in the very first over and then three more wickets followed inside the first four overs. The job was more than half done at that point but there was some resistance from the opposition. Once Lockie Ferguson got the wicket of Shai Hope, the tail-enders were exposed and slowly but surely, Bengaluru kept on taking wickets and got the job done with Yash Dayal finishing with 3 wickets.

OUT! TIMBER! Yash Dayal finishes things off in style. He goes with the yorker, in the blockhole. Kuldeep Yadav tries to jam it out but misses. The ball sneaks through and crashes into the stumps. Bengaluru win the match by 47 runs.

Too full, in the blockhole as well. Ishant Sharma defends it from inside the crease.

A length ball, outside off, this one shapes back in sharply. Ishant Sharma looks to push it away but misses.

WIDE! Full but sliding down leg. Wide given.

Nails the yorker this time. Yadav taps it to point for one.

A length ball, around off, pushed out to mid off.

Slower one, on a length, angling across. Kuldeep Yadav looks to chase it but misses.

WIDE! Too full and too wide, outside off.