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Simon Katich said that Rajasthan Royals butchered the chase when Shubham Dubey, the last recognised batter, was dismissed on the first delivery of the final over.
Dhruv Jurel played a 34-ball 47-run knock but that wasn’t enough for RR (Picture credit: AP)
Commentators on duty during the final few overs of the clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Rajasthan Royals were utterly surprised after the latter choked in what looked like an easy chase midway through their innings, for the third time in a row.
After yet another incomprehensible run chase, former cricketer Simon Katich and Pommie Mbangwa criticised the Rajasthan batting unit.
Katich said that Rajasthan butchered the chase when Shubham Dubey, the last recognised batter, was dismissed on the first delivery of the final over with Rajasthan requiring 17 runs to win.
“RR is butchering the chase,” Katich said on air.
Mbangwa, who was in the commentary box with Katich, said that nobody would believe that lightning can strike thrice, but it did for Rajasthan and the reasons for the loss can just be explained by them.
“Lightning strikes thrice. They were on their way to victory, but somehow ended up losing. They can only explain it to themselves. They couldn’t exorcise the ghosts of the last two games,” Mbangwa said.
The loss meant Rajasthan are now in a precarious situation in the tournament and one more loss in their remaining five games will officially end their campaign.
The unrelenting Josh Hazlewood fashioned RCB’s first victory at home this Indian Premier League season with a brilliant penultimate over as his side defeated Rajasthan by 11 runs in a see-saw affair in Bengaluru.
Coming on to bowl with Rajasthan requiring 18 off 12 balls, Hazlewood (4/33) picked up two wickets in as many deliveries while giving away just one run, as the visitors were stopped at 194/9 in a chase of 206 at a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Hazlewood’s heroics meant Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s (49 off 19 balls) blazing innings at the top of the order and Dhruv Jurel’s (47 off 34 balls) valiant effort went in vain as Rajasthan suffered their fifth consecutive loss.
This was after Bengaluru star batter Virat Kohli (70 off 42 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (50 off 27 balls) controlled the middle overs with a stand of 95 for the second wicket.
RR play their next game against the Gujarat Titans on April 28 at home.
