IPL 2022, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Lucknow Super Giants highlights: Rajat Patidar’s maiden century leads Royal Challengers Bangalore to Qualifier 2 

The domestic cricket star effortlessly led his side a step closer to the title after all the trademark names in the batting section failed. 

Royal Challengers Bangalore posted 207/4 in 20 overs, while in reply, Lucknow Super Giants could only manage 193 runs, courtesy of Bangalore’s superb bowling in the death overs.

Rajat Patidar smashes Lucknow Super Giants bowling to score his maiden IPL century

Lucknow Super Giants got off to a dream start after Lucknow pacer Mohsin Khan got Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis for a golden duck in the very first over. 

However, they couldn’t keep up the pressure on Bangalore as Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar added 66 runs in their second-wicket partnership to stabilize the innings in its nascent stage. Patidar dominated the innings with an incredible display of his batting skills.

Patidar made sure that his side doesn’t miss on the power play overs and smashed Krunal Pandya for 3 fours and 1 six. The youngster brought up his fifty in 28 balls. 

The underwhelming Virat Kohli fell for 25 runs in the ninth over, only for Glenn Maxwell to join him in the eleventh over for 9 runs. Mahipal Lomror was next to join the dugout after parting ways with Rajat Patidar in the fourteenth over, with only 14 runs to his name. 

However, Patidar got the perfect partner in Dinesh Karthik, who has emerged as a suitable finisher for Bangalore this season. 

Patidar continued his rampage against pace and spin alike and brought up his century in 49 balls. Lucknow did have their chances but they missed out on them after dropping Patidar on multiple occasions. 

Patidar then made sure to punish Lucknow in the same over as he clobbered leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for 3 sixes and 2 fours. 

The duo of Dinesh Karthik (37 off 23) and Patidar added 92 runs in 41 balls, 84 of which came in the last 5 overs, to turn the match on its head. 

In a brilliant knock of 112 off 54 balls, Patidar smashed 12 fours and seven sixes, lifting Bangalore to 207-4 after joining as a replacement for Sisodia midway through the IPL after going unsold in the auction.

Royal Challengers Bangalore inch closer to the finals after defeating Lucknow Super Giants

South African wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock started the fall of wickets for the Lucknow Super Giants after getting out for 6 runs in the first over. 

KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda then took it upon themselves to bring their side home and added 97 runs to the scoreboard. However, Bangalore’s Hasaranga was able to provide a much-needed breakthrough in the fifteenth over. 

Hooda 45 off 26), who just fell short of his fifty, got out with a bang as he smashed two sixes before his dismissal. 

Hopes remained for the Lucknow Super Giants as skipper Rahul and dangerman Marcus Stoinis were still on the crease in the death overs.

However, a brilliant display of bowling in the death overs by Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood made sure that the Lucknow Super Giants don’t even go beyond the 200-runs mark.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will meet Rajasthan Royals in the 2nd Qualifier on Friday to decide who will take on Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday.