PBKS vs RCB

10:30 PM IST: Right then, we have come to the end our coverage from Qualifier 1. An unlikely early finish which has hardly been the case in this edition of the tournament. PBKS just didn't turn up today and RCB were at their sublime best right from the word go. The Punjab Kings still have one more shot at the final as they will face the winner of the MI-GT contest which is slated to be played tomorrow. Join us tomorrow for the Eliminator clash and hopefully it produces a humdinger unlike today. It's time for myself (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) to take leave from the commentary box along with my fellow commentator and good mate Pradeep. Goodnight!!

Suyash Sharma is the Player of the Match, here is what he had to say: Sir I have performed that's why everyone is happy with my performance. The coaches have given me one role to target the stumps whether it is a googly or a leg break. The pitch was gripping a bit today so they failed to read my googly tofay. We will celebrate hard on 3rd June. 

Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain): I think we were very clear in our plans. The fast bowlers used the surface brilliantly and Suyash in the middle overs stuck to his plan. His strength is to stay on the stumps and keep bowling the wrong uns. I am okay if he concedes some runs, don't want to deter his confidence. We have done a lot of practice over the season so one missed season won't matter much. The way Salt is giving the start, the way he is playing his shots is a delight to the eyes. First of all I always thank the RCB fans wherever we go, keep supporting us, just one more game and let's celebrate together.

Phil Salt [Royal Challengers Bengaluru]: "It's a great feeling right now. We had a second bite at the cherry, it's such a great feeling to make it in the first chance you got. It did move a bit, not sure how much it was the wicket. Overall, not the worst wicket we played this season to put it that way. We played him in league stages, he had gotten me twice, I was just praying not the third time. I said before the game to Andy, that it's a blessing in disguise. You can think about it, train too much, play travel and play, was obviously is a blessing in disguise. Just gives us the momentum, such a cliche but it's true. Finding the momentum at the backend is a must. Our strike rates through the middle overs, just happy."

Shreyas Iyer [Punjab Kings captain]: "Absolutely, I felt we got to go back to the drawing board and see where we went wrong. We didn't read the wicket to be honest, we need to get back and see what we can do. I don't doubt on my decisions, outside of the ground, it was on point. We couldn't execute in the game. Such a lowest total, can't blame the bowlers. On such wickets, we need to work on our batting. In all the games we've played here, there was variable bounce. We can't give such reasons, bat according to the situations and have to live up to it. We've lost the battle, not the war."

10:08 PM IST: Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 8 wickets (with 10 overs to spare)

Philip Salt 56*(27) | Suyash Sharma 3/17(3)
Marcus Stoinis 26(17) | Kyle Jamieson 1/27(3)


That turned out to be a thoroughly professional run chase from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they romped home by 8 wickets with overs to spare. The target of 102 was never going to challenge RCB but the conditions were certainly helpful for the fast bowlers, especially with the new ball. 

Virat Kohli started off with a couple of boundaries off the bowling of Arshdeep Singh in the opening over before Phil Salt took the onus on himself to do what he does the best. They complemented each other very well as RCB raced to 30 in three overs before an away seingrr from Kyle Jamieson saw Kohli head back to the pavilion. 

Mayank Agarwal was all at sea against Jamieson and was beaten on four occasions before getting into his groove in the next over. Salt went along in his own merry way and kept plundering the PBKS bowlers to all parts of the ground. 

Mayank Agarwal was dismissed with RCB within touching distance of the victory in the end. Towards the end, it was the captain Rajat Patidar who smashed a four and a six to seal the deal for RCB. Salt remained unbeaten on 56 off 27 deliveries.

10:04 PM IST: A proper annihilation this as RCB romps home with 10 overs to spare. Only one team seemed to be on the park today as PBKS never really turned up. They were just bulldozed by a throughout improved RCB team who came into the game with confidence after chasing down the record total against the Lucknow Super Giants. RCB will now have time to relax and get to Ahmedabad for the final on Tuesday. 

9.6 Musheer Khan to Rajat Patidar, SIX! GAME, SET AND MATCH! CLINICAL RCB DECIMATE PBKS TO CHARGE INTO THE TITLE CLASH! RCB bulldozed their way into the IPL final with a dominant all-round performance, skittling Punjab Kings for just 101 and chasing it down with ruthless ease to seal their spot in style.

Flighted on a length on middle and leg, Patidar sits on one knee, clobbered it way over deep mid-wicket to seal the win in style. PBKS have plenty to ponder, but they have another shot at the finals still!

9.5 Musheer Khan to Phil Salt, loopy full delivery on the leg-stump. Salt presses and whips it to deep mid-wicket for one more. Just two needed now!