New Delhi: 

Yash Dayal held his nerves and executed his plans to perfection to defend 15 runs off the last over despite bowling a no-ball as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 2 runs in a thriller in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Saturday, May 03.

RCB completed a double over CSK with the victory and regained the top spot on the IPL 2025 points table, while also all but confirming their spot in the playoffs this season.

Terrific knocks from Mhatre and Jadeja go in vain:

Ayush Mhatre and Jadeja slammed terrific half-centuries, but their knocks went in vain as CSK fell short in the run chase. 17-year-old Mhatre continued his impressive run with a brilliant knock of 94 off 48 balls, becoming the third youngest Indian to score a fifty in the IPL. Mhatre dominated RCB bowlers in the Powerplay, including 26 runs off a single over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

He raced to his fifty off just 25 balls and finished with 94, laced with 9 fours and 5 sixes, missing out on his maiden IPL ton by a whisker. Mhatre shared a brilliant 114-run stand with Jadeja, who scored an unbeaten 77 off 45 balls. Jadeja showcased intent from the word go and got off to a flying start, complementing Mhatre from the other end.

RCB all but into IPL 2025 playoffs:

Rajat Patidat-led RCB have all but secured a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs after their 2-run victory against CSK. They became the first team to reach 16 points in the ongoing season. RCB are currently at the top of the points table with 16 points after 8 wins from 11 matches. They continue their stellar run, aiming to lift their maiden trophy this year.

Kohli slammed 62 off 33 balls with the help of five sixes and as many fours, while Bethell scored 55 off 33 balls, laced with 8 fours and two sixes. However, Romario Shepherd stole the show with his sensational finishing cameo.

Shepherd hammered some towering sixes, taking 33 runs of Khaleel Ahmed in the 19th over to smash a fifty off just 14 balls, the second-fastest in IPL history and the fastest of the ongoing season. He smoked an impressive six sixes and slammed 4 fours en route to a stunning unbeaten 53 off 14 balls to lift RCB to 213/5 in 20 overs.

While bowlers did well for RCB to save the game in the death overs during CSK’s run chase, batters too performed well after they were asked to bat first.

Openers Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli slammed half-centuries apiece to get RCB off to a flying start and set the stage for a big total with a terrific 97-run stand for the first wicket.

The duo dominated the RCB bowlers in the middle overs to set up the stage for a successful chase for CSK with their 114-run partnership.

However, CSK’s chase was derailed after they lost Mhatre and Dewald Brevis on back-to-back deliveries in the 17th over by Lungi Ngidi. Dhoni stepped up in the chase but failed, while Jadeja too couldn’t get CSK over the line as they lost by 2 runs in the end.

But Dube failed to capitalise on the free hit, managing just a single on it before Dayal conceded two more singles on the next two balls to seal a nail-biting win for RCB.

Thanks to his last-over heroics, RCB successfully managed to defend their total of 213 runs in 20 overs as CSK once again faltered in a big chase. The five-time champions last successfully chased down a 180-plus target in IPL 2018.

With 15 to defend, the left-arm pacer started the 20th over with two singles to MS Dhoni and a well-set Ravindra Jadeja. He then bowled a superb low full-toss on the leg-stump to trap Dhoni lbw to turn the game in RCB’s favour.

However, Dayal ended up bowling a no-ball next and was smashed for a six on the same by new batter Shivam Dube as the game hung in the balance.

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