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Sunrisers Hyderabad ended the IPL league stage in second behind table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders after they beat Punjab Kings by four wickets on Sunday.
Former champions Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, edged out Rajasthan Royals for second spot on net run-rate after the final league match between Rajasthan and Kolkata was abandoned due to rain without a ball being bowled in Guwahati.
Chasing 215 for victory, Hyderabad, who are already among the top four teams to have made the play-offs, depended on Abhsihek Sharma's 66 to reach the target with five balls to spare at their home.
"We've had a lot of fun and played some really great cricket," said Cummins. "It's satisfying and exciting (to be in the play-offs)."
Kolkata and Hyderabad will face each other in the first qualifier on Tuesday with the winner moving to the final on May 26 in Chennai.
The loser will have another shot at making the final when they play the winner of the eliminator in the second qualifier.
Third-placed Rajasthan, who have been winless in their last five matches, will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the eliminator on Wednesday in Ahmedabad.
Left-handed Abhishek, who has been a breakout young Indian star in this edition with 467 runs including three half-centuries, took charge after Travis Head departed for a first-ball duck.
"He (Abhishek) is amazing. I wouldn't want to bowl to him," Cummins said of his team's player of the match. "It's scary as he plays with freedom, not only against pacers but also against spinners."
He reached his 50 in 21 balls and hammered five fours and six sixes in his 28-ball blitz to set up the chase.
Abhishek put on an attacking stand of 72 with Rahul Tripathi, who smashed 33, before Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen steadied the innings and hit back.
Klaasen smashed 42 before he got out in the 19th over and Sanvir Singh steered the team home.
Punjab, who exited the play-off race early and extended their wait for a first IPL title, posted 214-5 as Prabhsimran Singh hit 71 off 45 balls to lay the foundations for the total.
Prabhsimran put on a key stand of 54 with South Africa's Rilee Rossouw, a left-handed batsman who hit 49, to set up the batting attack.
Rossouw kept up the charge after Prabhsimran's departure in the 15th over as he smashed three fours and four sixes in his 24-ball knock.
Jitesh Sharma, who stood in as captain after England's Sam Curran returned home after the previous win, steered the team past 200 and ended the innings with two sixes in his unbeaten 32 off 15 balls.
Left-arm medium-pace bowler T. Natarajan stood out with figures of 2-33 in his four overs.
In the second match of the day at Rajasthan's adopted home ground in Guwahati, unrelenting rain kept the players off the field until a seven-overs-a-side game was planned.
Kolkata won the toss and elected to field first but another spell of rain finally forced officials to call off the match.
19 May 16:51
Hyderabad down Punjab to keep top-two hopes alive
Indian batsman Abhishek Sharma smashed 66 as Sunrisers Hyderabad kept their hopes alive for a top-two finish in the IPL league stage with a four-wicket win over Punjab Kings on Sunday.
Chasing 215 for victory, Hyderabad, who are already among the top four teams to have made the play-offs, reached the target with five balls to spare at their home.
The former champions, led by Pat Cummins, have moved to 17 points from 14 matches and will need Rajasthan Royals to lose the second match of the day against toppers Kolkata Knight Riders or a no result in the game to stay in top two.
"We've had a lot of fun and played some really great cricket," said Cummins. "It's satisfying and exciting (to be in the play-offs)."
The first- and second-placed teams have the advantage of two chances to qualify for the final on 26 May in Chennai.
Left-handed Abhishek, who has been a breakout young Indian star in this edition with 467 runs including three half-centuries, took charge after Travis Head departed for a first-ball duck.
"He (Abhishek) is amazing. I wouldn't want to bowl to him," Cummins said of his team's player of the match.
"It's scary as he plays with freedom, not only against pacers but also against spinners."
He reached his 50 in 21 balls and hammered five fours and six sixes in his 28-ball blitz to set up the chase.
Abhishek put on an attacking stand of 72 with Rahul Tripathi, who smashed 33, before Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen steadied the innings and hit back.
Klaasen smashed 42 before he got out in the 19th over and Sanvir Singh steered the team home.
Punjab, who exited the play-off race early and extended their wait for a first IPL title, posted 214-5 as Prabhsimran Singh hit 71 off 45 balls to lay the foundations for the total.
Prabhsimran put on a key stand of 54 with South Africa's Rilee Rossouw, a left-handed batsman who hit 49, to set up the batting attack.
Rossouw kept up the charge after Prabhsimran's departure in the 15th over as he smashed three fours and four sixes in his 24-ball knock.
Jitesh Sharma, who stood in as captain after England's Sam Curran returned home after the previous win, steered the team past 200 and ended the innings with two sixes in his unbeaten 32 off 15 balls.
Left-arm medium-pace bowler T. Natarajan stood out with figures of 2-33 in his four overs.
- AFP
19 May 13:48
INNINGS BREAK:
Punjab Kings posted 214/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Prabhsimran Singh top-scored with 71 off 45 balls, while Atharva Taide (46 off 27), Rilee Rossouw (49 off 24) and skipper Jitesh Sharma (32* off 15) also made valuable contributions.
18 May 20:54
RESULT - Faf's RCB qualify for IPL playoffs with win over Chennai
Skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli hit key knocks to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru seal the last play-off spot in the Indian Premier League with a 27-run win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.
Bengaluru posted 218-5 after Du Plessis, who hit 54, and Kohli, who smashed 47, laid the foundations for the total in a rain-hit innings at their home M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Chennai were held to 191-7 in reply and with both sides level on 14 points, Bengaluru went through to the play-offs on run-rate after a sixth win in a row.
Rachin Ravindra hit 61 before Ravindra Jadeja, who made an unbeaten 42, and old warhorse M.S. Dhoni (25) gave Bengaluru a scare in a stand of 61 as Chennai fell short of the qualification mark.
The match could be Dhoni's last IPL outing as a player and also the final face-off between him and Kohli - two legends of Indian cricket.
Dhoni, 42, was widely expected to retire after he led the team to a record-equalling fifth title last year, but vowed to come back for one more season after a knee operation.
Dhoni handed over the captaincy ahead of the season to Ruturaj Gaikwad, who won the toss and elected to field first in the virtual knockout for the final play-off place.
Kohli and Du Plessis started on the offensive before rain halted their charge after the third over and suddenly the ball began to turn after play resumed.
Both openers waded their way through Chennai's spin charge from Maheesh Theekshana and Mitchell Santner as Kohli hit a couple of sixes.
New Zealand's Santner, a left-arm spinner, denied Kohli his fifty and got Du Plessis run out through a deflection from his finger at the non-strikers end.
Rajat Patidar, who hit 41, and Cameron Green, who struck an unbeaten 17-ball 38, then steadied the ship and hit back in a partnetrship of 71 off 28 balls.
Bengaluru returned strong with the ball and Glenn Maxwell struck on the first ball to send back Gaikwad for a duck.Fast bowler Yash Dayal had Daryl Mitchell caught by Kohli to dent their chase.
But it was Du Plessis who pulled off a stunning grab to send back Mitchell Santner.
Jadeja and Dhoni raised hopes of a turnaround as Chennai needed 17 off the last over to qualify but Dayal kept his calm to dismiss Dhoni and then gave away just one run.
Table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already made the play-offs, which will begin with the first qualifier on Tuesday in Ahmedabad.
The final is on May 26 in Chennai.
- AFP
Scores in brief:
RCB 218-5 in 20 (Du Plessis 54, Kohli 47, Thakur 2/61, Santner 1/23)
CSK 191-7 in 20 (Ravindra 61, Jadeja 42*, Dayal 2/42, Green 1/18)
Result: Bengaluru won by 27 runs
18 May 19:34
Halfway stage!
After a 66-run second-wicket stand, Lockie Ferguson bowls a slower delivery and Ajinkya Rahane is caught at cover for 22-ball 33.
CSK 87-3 in 10
Ravindra 39*
Dube 1*
Chennai Super Kings need 132 runs to win
18 May 19:11
5-over update:
Two wickets have fallen in Chennai's run chase as Glenn Maxwell strikes immediately in the first ball of the second innings. Ruturaj Gaikwad hits it straight to the short fine leg to depart for a golden duck.
Yash Dayal then gets the wicket of Daryl Mitchell and Dayal walks back for four.
CSK 43-2 in 5
Ravindra 17*
Rahane 13*
Chennai need 176 runs from 90 balls.
18 May 18:27
INNINGS:
Faf du Plessis' half-century helped steer the Royal Challengers Bangalore to 218-5 in their must-win IPL encounter against the Chennai Super Kings.
After being sent to bat first, a solid 78-run opening stand between Du Plessis and Virat Kohli formed before, Mitchell Santner struck as Kohli was caught for 47 off 29 balls (hitting three fours and four sixes).
Du Plessis smashed three fours and three sixes as he scored 54 off 39 balls before the South African was run-out.
Rajat Patidar made a handy 23-ball 41 and Cameron Green scored an unbeaten 38 off 17 balls to get Bengaluru to the 200-mark.
Chennai Super Kings need to score 201 to qualify for the IPL playoffs.
Scores in brief:
RCB 218-5 in 20 (Du Plessis 54, Kohli 47, Thakur 2/61, Santner 1/23)
Chennai Super Kings need 219 runs to win
18 May 17:51
15-over update:
Former Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis brings up another solid IPL fifty but departs in the most unlikely manner.
Patidar drove back to bowler Mitchell Santner, who got a finger tip and Du Plessis, at the other end, didn't put his bat inside the crease in time. Du Plessis departs for 54 off 39 balls (hitting three fours and three sixes)
RCB 138-2 in 15
Patidar 23*
Green 11*
18 May 17:27
10-over update:
After a stellar 78-run opening stand, Mitchell Santner gets the breakthrough as Virat Kohli is caught at long-on for a well-played 47 off 29 balls (hitting three fours and four sixes).
RCB 78-1 in 10
Du Plessis 30*
Patidar 0*
18 May 17:04
5-over update:
Former Proteas captain Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli have gotten RCB to a decent start. However, a lengthy rain delay has slowed the run rate considerably.
RCB 37-0 in 5
Kohli 22*
Du Plessis 14*
18 May 15:39
TOSS:
Chennai Super Kings have won the toss and chosen to BOWL first against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Teams:
RCB
Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik, Mahipal Lomror, Yash Dayal, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson
CSK
Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Ajinkya Rahane, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh
17 May 20:55
A consolation win for LSG as they prevail by 18 runs over Mumbai Indians who gave Dewald Brevis a rare start.
The talented South African batsman scored 23 off 20 balls but holed out just when he looked like he was getting in the groove.
Read our full report in the main body.
17 May 18:02
INNINGS:
Half-centuries by KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran took the Lucknow Super Giants to 214-6 in their IPL encounter against the Mumbai Indians.
After being sent to bat first, Nuwan Thushara and Piyush Chawla struck as Devdutt Padikkal (0) and Marcus Stoinis (28) were trapped LBW. Reeling at 69-3, a 109-run stand between the Lucknow captain and Pooran took on the Gerald Coetzee-less Mumbai Indians.
Pooran smashed a blistering 75 off 29 balls (hitting five fours and eight sixes) before he was caught in the deep off Thushara.
A mini-collapse occurred as Chawla took back-to-back wickets to dismiss Arshad Khan (0) and the in-form KL Rahul, who departed for a well-played 55 off 41 balls (hitting three fours and three sixes).
Thushara and Chawla took three wickets a piece.
Scores in brief:
LSG 214-6 in 20 (Pooran 75, KL Rahul 55, Thushara 3/28, Chawla 3/29)
Mumbai Indians need 215 runs to win
17 May 17:30
15-over update:
A stunning and blistering unbeaten 90-run stand between KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran have formed. The Lucknow Super Giants are back in the game as they go at 10.60 an over.
Pooran has been the main aggressor, bringing up his IPL half-century off just 19 balls with a maximum.
LSG 159-3 in 15
KL Rahul 47*
Pooran 66*
17 May 16:57
10-over update:
Marcus Stoinis smashed five fours before he was trapped LBW by Piyush Chawla. Stoinis was struck on the front pad and had to depart for 28 off 22 balls (hitting five fours).
Chawla strikes again as Deepak Hooda is caught at backward point thanks to a stunning leaping catch by Nehal Wadhera. Hooda walks back for 11.
LSG 69-3 in 10
KL Rahul 27*
Pooran 0*
17 May 16:35
5-over update:
Only the one wicket to fall as Devdutt Padikkal is trapped LBW for a golden duck. He sends it upstairs but ball-tracking shows all red and Nuwan Thushara gets his first scalp.
LSG 35-1 after 5
Stoinis 27*
KL Rahul 5*
17 May 15:41
TOSS
LSG has won the toss, and they will field first.
TEAMS
Dewald Brevis plays for Mumbai tonight! No Quinny de Kock in the LSG team, however.
Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (w), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Hardik Pandya (c), Nehal Wadhera, Romario Shepherd, Anshul Kamboj, Piyush Chawla, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Arshad Khan, Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan
16 May 19:41
Hyderabad secure IPL play-off spot after washout
Sunrisers Hyderabad secured their IPL play-off spot after rain forced their match against the Gujarat Titans to be abandoned without a ball bowled in Hyderabad on Thursday.
The washout saw both teams taking a point each, which pushed Hyderabad to third in the table with 15 points.
Gujarat had been knocked out of the play-off race earlier this week after their game against Kolkata Knight Riders was also abandoned due to rain.
The weather in Hyderabad on Thursday left thousands of fans disappointed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
The game was finally called off more than two and a half hours after the scheduled start.
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings, who are fourth, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead the hunt for the remaining playoff spot.
- AFP
15 May 20:39
Curran stars for Punjab as Rajasthan lose four in row
Skipper Sam Curran starred with bat and ball as Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by five wickets for a consolation win in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.
Chasing a tricky 145 on a sluggish pitch, Punjab depended on Curran's unbeaten 63 to achieve their target with seven balls to spare in Rajasthan's adopted home ground in Guwahati.
Left-handed Curran put on a key 63-run stand with Jitesh Sharma, who made 22, and despite losing his partner in the 16th over steered the team home to lift them from the bottom of the 10-team table.
Impact substitute Ashutosh Sharma smashed 17 and the winning run to hand Rajasthan their fourth successive defeat in this edition of the T20 tournament.
"To be very honest, we have to sit back and accept that we are going through some failures," Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson said.
"You have to find out what's not working well as a team. When you are getting to the business end, we need someone to raise their finger up and say I am going to win the game for the team. We have the players who can do that."
The loss for Rajasthan hurt their chances of a top-two finish in the league stage a day after they confirmed their play-off spot.
Rajasthan, who stay in second place with one game in hand, and table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders are the only two teams to have booked their play-off berth.
The top four teams make the play-offs, but the first and second-placed sides have the advantage of two chances to qualify for the final on 26 May in Chennai.
Punjab, who had already bowed out of the play-off race, kept the opposition down to 144-9 despite a 34-ball 48 by Riyan Parag.
Left-arm quick Curran bowled Yashasvi Jaiswal, for four, in the first over and then Samson departed for 18 off Nathan Ellis after a slow start.
Parag found Ravichandran Ashwin, who hit 28 off 19 balls, for company and the two attempted to push the scoring in their partnership of 50.
The rest of the batting faltered against a disciplined attack as Curran, fellow quick Harshal Patel and spinner Rahul Chahal took two wickets each.
- AFP
15 May 20:03
Even after their poor start, Punjab Kings get over the line to win by 5 wickets with 7 balls to spare.
More to follow...
15 May 20:03
Even after their poor start, Punjab Kings get over the line to win by 5 wickets with 7 balls to spare.
More to follow...
15 May 18:00
INNINGS:
A stellar bowling effort from the Punjab Kings saw Rajasthan Royals restricted to 144-9 in their IPL encounter on Wednesday.
Deciding to bat first, the Rajasthan Royals continued to lose wickets at regular intervals as they were reeling at 42-3.
A 50-run stand between Ravichandran Ashwin and Riyan Parag formed before Arshdeep Singh got the wicket of Ashwin, who was caught at deep point for 28 off 19 balls.
Parag top-scored with a valiant 48 off 34 balls (hitting six fours) before he was trapped LBW by Harshal Patel.
South African batter Donovan Ferreira came in as an impact player to steer them through the death, but Ferreira was brilliantly caught by a running Rilee Rossouw on the boundary rope and departed for just seven.
Curran, Harshal Patel and Chahar took two wickets a piece.
Scores in brief:
RR 144-9 in 20 (Parag 48, Ashwin 28, Curran 2/24, Chahar 2/26)
Punjab Kings need 145 runs to win
15 May 17:23
5 overs left!
Wickets continue to tumble for Rajasthan Royals.
A 50-run stand between Ravichandran Ashwin and Riyan Parag formed before Arshdeep Singh got the wicket of Ashwin, who was caught at deep point for 28 off 19 balls.
Curran took his second as Dhruv Jurel was caught out for a golden duck. Rahul Chahar took an excellent catch in his follow through to get the scalp of Rovman Powell for four.
South African batter Donovan Ferreira has come in as an impact player to help Rajasthan's batting.
RR 103-6 in 15
Parag 22*
Ferreira 1*
15 May 16:53
10-over update:
Two more wickets fall for the Rajasthan Royals!
Australia's Nathan Ellis bags the wicket of captain Sanju Samson as he cuts to point and departs for 18. The following over, Tom Kohler-Cadmore tries to clear long-on but doesn't get the distance and is caught for 18 off Rahul Chahar.
Punjab Kings bowlers have put the pressure on the hosts as they go at 5.80 an over.
RR 58-3 in 10
Parag 8*
Ashwin 20*
15 May 16:30
5-over update:
Captain Sam Curran strikes in the opening over as Yashasvi Jaiswal gets an inside edge onto the wickets and departs for just four.
RR 34-1 in 5
Samson 17*
Kohler-Cadmore 13*
15 May 15:46
TOSS
The Royals won the toss and they will bat
TEAMS
RR XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (capt, wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal
Subs: Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Kuldeep Sen, Donovan Ferreira
PBKS XI: Prabhsimran Singh, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sam Curran (capt), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Subs: Ashutosh Sharma, Vidwath Kaverappa, Tanay Thyagarajan, Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Bhatia
