LSG vs RCB

12:10 AM IST: Right then, we have come to the end of our coverage for the last group game of IPL 18. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have chased their highest ever IPL score to confirm their top two qualification. They will now lock horns against the Punjab Kings on 29th May and that should be another humdinger of a contest. We have a day off in between after back to back action. We will back on Thursday for the first Qualifier and let's see what transpires. For now, this is myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Darpan Tikiya. Goodnight! 

Jitesh Sharma (Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain and also wins the Player of the Match Award): I can't express the thoughts, I can't believe that I managed to play the innings. All I was trying was to see the ball..When Virat BHAI departed, I tried to take the game deep as my guru Dinesh Karthik always tells me to take the game deep. I was having cramps due to the extra load but I am enjoying the responsibility with Virat bhai, Krunal bhai and Bhuvi bhai around and I am enjoying it. We have thought about, we will enjoy a bit but we will make sure we have a good recovery for the Qualfier. Credit goes to Rajat, he gave me the opportunity to keep up the trend of away wins. Thanks to almighty for the win. Hazlewood is fit now and should play the playoffs. Everyone in the team is a match winner. The belief system is great in the team.

Mayank Agarwal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): "Very honestly, there was very less talking to do. I just had to give Jitesh the strike. It was a wicket-keeper's game. Rishabh played well and then Jitesh did that. I think such run chases build confidence and momentum. It gives you the belief that you can chase down 230. Even in the last game we were well placed but could not do it. The talks were that if we get in the same position, we have to seal it. The captain led from the front. It was good that me and Virat could get some quick runs in the middle. We knew that the wicket was good and it was about one batter playing through. Happy that we could do it."

Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants captain): "You have to play 40 overs of good cricket. 20 overs won't cut it and that has been the story of our season. (On his knock) I was feeling well with each and every match. But sometimes it does not come off. Today, I told myself that if I get a start, I have to convert it into a big one. Kept is simple, played through the line and kept the same intensity till the end. (On what to look forward to) There will be a lot of areas where we will look to improve. We do not know where the talks will go. But it is time to switch off for a bit. There have been positives. Digvesh is one of them. Avesh put in a good performance too. So did Akash Singh and Akash Deep."

11:45 PM IST: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 6 wickets (with 8 deliveries to spare)

Jitesh Sharma 85*(33) | Nuwan Thushara 1/26(4)
Rishabh Pant 118*(61) | William O'Rourke 2/74(4)

On the back of an incredible knock from Jitesh Sharma, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won their final group game against the Lucknow Super Giants by wickets to qualify in the top two. They will now face the Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on May 2,9 and a win in that match will take them directly to the final. The run chase of 228 was always going to be a massive task for RCB as they had never chased such a massive score. 

They got off to a great start as Virat Kohli smashed William O’Rourke for five boundaries in the second over to lay the platform for RCB. Salt also partnered him well as both the openers found the boundaries on a consistent basis as they shared a 60 run stand in just five overs. Salt was eventually dismissed by Akash Singh in the final powerplay over. Kohl continued the good work while Rajat Patidar came out firing with a 7 ball 14 before steering a back-of-a-length delivery straight to the backward point fielder. 

Liam Livingstone was trapped right in front of the stumps very next ball and all of a sudden the complexion of the game changed. Virat and Mayank Agarwal got some quick runs in that situation before an uncharacteristic shot from Virat saw him depart in the 12th over with more 100 runs needed. The pressure was very much on RCB but Jitesh Sharma absolutely turned the game around with a flamboyant knock. 

He didn't get away straightaway and took a bit of time before just blazing away during a stunning stand with Mayank Agarwal. He played the field to perfection and some of his shots oozed class and confidence. This was perhaps the best he has batted in his IPL career. Everything came from the middle of the bat but just as he was about to score his maiden fifty, he reverse-swept one of Digvesh Rathi straight to the backward point fielder. 

However, as it turned out, it was a back-foot no-ball and Jitesh got a reprieve. There was no looking back from there as he smashed a six off the very next ball and went onto remain unbeaten on 85 off just 33 deliveries, which included 8 fours and 6 sixes. Mayank also played a fine hand, remaining unbeaten on 41 as RCB won with 8 deliveries to spare.

11:41 PM IST: This is RCB's highest run chase in IPL history and what a time to achieve the feat. Jitesh Sharma with a stunning knock of 85 off just 33 deliveries to take RCB through to the first Qualified and they will get two shots in the final. A stunning opening stand set the foundation but when Kohli departed it seemed done and dusted for RCB but Jitesh from nowhere played a knock of a lifetime to take RCB over the finish line. Handshakes all around and RCB will certainly believe now of lifting their maiden IPL trophy. 

18.4 Ayush Badoni to Jitesh Sharma, SIX! RCB FINISH IN THE TOP TWO! The celebrations that unfold are rhapsodic. Almost feel as intense as they were when the famous Naveen-Kohli spat happened at this very venue. Though, this one is due to different reasons and there is no malice there. They had not won a game since the resumption of the tournament and just before the playoffs, they register their highest successful chase ever to seal a place in Qualifier 1. Hurled in on the fuller side of good length, at the stumps. Jitesh picked it up quickly and unfurled a big slog sweep to deposit it over the backward square leg boundary.

18.1 Ayush Badoni to Mayank Agarwal, hurls in a flatter one on a good length from around the wicket. A deft knock to long-on gets him a run. 

Will O'Rourke has been taken to the cleaners here! 2/74 off his four and this is one of the most expensive spells in IPL history. Jitesh Sharma! What a knock this has been - he has turned this chase into light work and RCB are just seven runs away from a top two berth!

17.6 William O'Rourke to Jitesh Sharma, SIX MORE! Far more convincing. O'Rourke hurled it full. But the fact that Jitesh stood deep in the crease made it a slot ball; allowed him to get underneath it and whack it over midwicket.