Bengaluru, Apr 30 (UNI): A brilliant hat-trick by local lad Shreyas Gopal (3-12) went in vein as heavy rains under the influence of Fani cyclonic storm left Rajasthan Royals in no man’s land and its key IPL tie against Royal Challengers Bangalore abandoned here on Monday.
Winning the toss, Royals captain Steve Smith put the hosts into bat and Virat Kohli blazed hitting 25 in just seven balls with three sixes and with his opening partner AB de Villiers (10) added 35 in just 9 balls of the five-over- a- side shootout in the match curtailed due to rain.
RCB made 62 for 7, as Shreyas Gopal curtailed the top RCB batsmen scalping Virat Kohli, de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis (00) in the last three deliveries of the only over he bowled. Young West Indian fast bowler Oshane Thomas took two for 6 runs to strangulate the RCB batting line up.
In reply Rajasthan Royals were on course to win the match with Sanju Samson scoring 28 off 13 balls hitting three sixes and two boundaries but fell to leg spinner Yazuvendra Chahal in the fourth over, even as rains resumed and the match officials decided to abandon the match.
Liam Livingstone remained not out at 11 as Royals ended at 41-1 after 3.2 overs when the match was called off.
Now Royals have 11 points from 13 games, placed fifth on the table with just one more match to be played and their hope of making to the play off almost shattered. RCB which is already out of contention to make it to the second stage has just 9 points from equal number of games and remains on the bottom of the points tally.
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