Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered their fifth consecutive victory to keep their IPL 2024 playoff dreams alive as the Faf Du Plessis-led side defeated Delhi Capitals by 47 runs on Sunday. The win means that RCB now have 12 points from 13 matches and their final league match against Chennai Super Kings can decide the fate for both teams. RCB will reach 14 points if they can beat CSK and that will put them in a good position to end up in the Top 4. CSK earlier defeated Rajasthan Royals and as a result, RCB will have to win by a good margin in order to end up with a superior Net Run Rate (NRR).

Lucknow Super Giants are also in the race for the playoffs and they need to lose one of their remaining two matches for RCB to qualify. DC and Gujarat Titans can also reach the 14-point mark but considering their disappointing NRRs, it seems unlikely that they will be able to qualify for the next stage.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowled and fielded brilliantly to beat Delhi Capitals by 47 runs.

Having managed only 187 for 9 after a blazing half-century by in-form Rajat Patidar, RCB bowled out lackluster DC for 140 in 19.1 overs. Patidar (52 off 32 balls) and Will Jacks (41 off 28 balls) added 88 for the third wicket in little under nine overs.

But Yash Dayal (3/20) and Cameron Green (1/19) were brilliant with their lengths as none of the Delhi batters save stand-in skipper Axar Patel (57 off 39 balls) made a mark.

DC stand-in skipper Axar Patel decoded the factor that led to their defeat.

“Dropped catches hurt us. Could’ve restricted them to 150. When you lose four wickets in powerplay, you’re always chasing the game. 160-170 would’ve been a par score. Pitch was two-paced. Some were skidding, some were holding. When your main players are run out and you lose four in powerplay, you’re chasing the game. Anything can happen, but haven’t thought that far ahead,” he said after the match.

(With PTI inputs)