The 60th match of the IPL 2023 was played between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on May 14. It was a must-win game for both sides, given their positions on the points table.
Faf du Plessis, skipper of RCB, won the toss and chose to bat first. For them, Wayne Parnell came in for Josh Hazlewood, with Michael Bracewell replacing Wanindu Hasaranga. Adam Zampa came in for Trent Boult for RR.
The RCB innings were build around the 55 from Du Plessis and 54 from Glenn Maxwell and their 69-run partnership. Anuj Rawat then provided the finishing touches as his 11-ball 29* propelled RCB to 171/5 in 20 overs.
Adam Zampa and KM Asif took two wickets each for RR.
Though needing to win the match to stay alive in the race for playoffs, RR completely crumbled in the chase of a 172-run target. They were 28/5 in 6 overs with both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler making ducks.
Only Joe Root (10) and Shimron Hetmyer, who made 35 with 4 sixes and 1 four reached double-figures for RR, as they were bowled out for 59 in 10.3 overs. This was their second-lowest total in IPL history, behind 58 which also came against RCB in IPL 2009.
For RCB, Wayne Parnell took 3/10 and was named the Player of the Match, while Michael Bracewell and Karn Sharma took two wickets each in the 112-run win.
RCB moved to the 5th spot in the points table with 12 points in 12 games while things gave become extremely difficult for RR who have 12 points from 13 games and have slipped to 6th place.
The cricket fraternity reacted in numbers to this tragic loss for RR and a mega impressive win for RCB.
Here are the tweets:
