It all leaves us nicely placed heading into the final double-header weekend of IPL 2023. Only one playoff spot seasled - Gujarat Titans - three up for grabs. We'll have it all covered for you as it all unfolds. Hope you have your company throughout the final stages of the season! Till the next time, take care and ciao!
11:41pm Time for the presentation.
Sanju Samson, Royals captain: "[On the NRR] At the end of the game Hettie was going well and we felt 18.5 was when we wanted to get it. With the team which we have, it's a bit shocking to see where we stand on the table. If we look back, we have a lot of things to discuss and look at it. [Jaiswal] He bats at this young age as if he has played a 100 T20s. [Expect Boult to pick first-over wicket?] Yes, every match!"
Devdutt Padikkal, player of the match: "Apart from the net sessions [it is the best I have hit the ball]. Was hitting well coming into the season, but it didn't come off well. Every game you come into the side and you want to win the game. Finally I could make an impact. [No. 3] It has been that kind of a season where I have been all over the place with the order. Doesn't matter which position I bat, I have to learn. At the start of the season not sure if i could make it. I was in a very bad shape. Thankful to everyone who supported me."
11:32pm Chasing 188, Royals were kept in pursuit by fifties from Jaiswal and Padikkal. Then Hetmyer gave them the final impetus when it seemed they had left it a tad too late, with Samson falling cheaply and Parag being sent ahead of Jurel. But Parag also managed to deposit a couple into the stands before Hetmyer came into his own. This was after Kings' innings themselves was stuttering before JItesh, Curran and Shahrukh injected some life into it towards the latter half. In the end, their tall end wasn't tall enough.
Shravan: "Everyone talking about RCB lose then RR can go ahead but don't forget even a win for MI will knock off RR." Of course. The scenarios for Royals are favourable ONLY IF both RCB and MI lose.
Deva: "The way last few games were lost by hosts, seems that CSK, LSG will win with RCB, MI might lose and RR might get a jackpot..fingers crossed!!"
11:23pm Royals get to 14 points and will now endure a nervous wait for the next couple of days! Rajesh pings that if RCB lose by six runs or more, that will leave Royals ahead on NRR! Royals had a tall ask at hand, after they gave away 46 off their last two overs. Despite that, Kings are out and here's what Shikhar Dhawan has to say: "Jitesh, Shahrukh and Sam Curran brought us back after we lost wickets. We didn't bowl well. I feel that 200 should have been a good total. I feel that all the areas were not clicking together. It is a young side so it goes up and down. As a leader I learnt a lot of things. We make mistakes and from those we learn a lot. [Spinners at the death] Today I ended up in that position because we had to take the game deep and wanted my best bowlers to bowl earlier. Last game I gave Brar that over, and learnt a lesson."
Shimron Hetmyer: "Trying to see how fast we can get the game to finish. I was trying to finish it in 18 overs. [Exchange of words with Sam Curran] It's good to have someone say something to me. Doesn't really happen that often when I bat. Gives me some confidence to execute."
Jurel is back on strike.
