Bengaluru just a step away from coronation

Mullanpur: The force is indeed with Royal Challengers Bengaluru! Having played enterprising cricket all through the season, a determined Royal Challengers cranked up the gears several notches higher to flatten a shell-shocked Punjab Kings and storm into their fourth IPL final here on Thursday.

Right from the moment skipper Rajat Patidar, called it right at the toss, Royal Challengers came out all guns blazing -- first their bowlers delivering a mesmerising performance to bowl out a dumbstruck Punjab for 101 in just 14.1 overs — the second joint lowest total in a playoff game — at the new PCA Stadium.

That total was hardly going to test a high-on-confidence Royal Challengers, who had successfully chased down totals six times this season. While Punjab bowlers, backed by a raucous home crowd, who believed their team can do the unthinkable, did show some heart momentarily, RCB eventually cantered home to an eight-wicket victory in just 10 overs. 

RCB will play the final against the winner of Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3 while battered and bruised Punjab will be hoping to bounce back when they clash against the winner of Friday’s Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on June 1.   

The primary reason behind Punjab’s sensational run this season that saw them finish on top of the table was consistent performances of their top four — Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis and Shreyas Iyer. Prior to the Qualifier 1, Iyer had scored over 500 runs while Priyansh and Prabhsimran had raked up 400 plus. 

If RCB were to nick the game, then they had to keep the quartet in check. And their bowlers, first the pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/17), Yash Dayal (2/26) and Josh Hazlewood (3/21), and then spinner Suyash Sharma (3/17) responded brilliantly to the challenge, punishing Punjab for their over-aggressive batting with disciplined lines and lengths.

Dayal struck the first blow when he prised out Arya, the batter handing out a simple catch to Krunal Pandya at cover. The early dismissal didn’t deter Prabhsimran who blasted Dayal for a six and successive boundaries off Bhuvneshwar in his usual daredevilry style. It’s his way of batting and that’s what had made him successful too. But then trying one shot too many against a seasoned operator like Bhuvneshwar isn’t the wisest of options and Prabhsimran experienced it when he was sent back with a smart piece of bowling from the pacer.

Then Hazlewood dismissed Iyer and Inglis off successive overs to leave Punjab in complete disarray at 38/4. Punjab’s hopes of recovery then hinged on Nehal Wadhera, another in form player, and star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. Dayal though snuffed out any such hopes as he castled Wadhera in the seventh over, Punjab in deep trouble at 50/5.

Spinner Suyash then twisted the knife with telling blows in the middle phase. He first removed Shashank Singh and Musheer Khan in one over before rattling the stumps of Stoinis in the 11th over, Punjab completely battered at 78/8. From there on it was just a matter of time and Punjab innings finally folded up just after they inched past 100.

At that point Royal Challengers knew their ticket for Ahmedabad can safely be booked and although they lost Virat Kohli cheaply, in-form Phil Salt smashed an entertaining 56 not out to ensure the pubs and bars in Bengaluru will be packed to the rafters on June 3.

The return of Josh Hazlewood (left) had a desired effect as the Aussie pacer claimed two crucial wickets. Reuters

RCB supporters turned up in big numbers to add excitement to the proceedings. PTI