Rajat Patidar's majestic unbeaten hundred has helped the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator by 14 runs and book their spot in the 2nd Qualifier against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.
Having been set a target as big as 208, the Lucknow Super Giants would have hoped for their opening pair of Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul to repeat their heroics from the last game.
However, it didn't prove to be the case as De Kock (6 off 5) holed out to Faf du Plessis at mid-on while trying to loft Mohammed Siraj in the 1st over.
Rahul (79 off 58) started off slowly and managed just nine runs off his first 11 deliveries. However, he did make up for it in the last over of the powerplay by smashing Siraj for a couple of fours and a six to take LSG's total to 62/2.
Deepak Hooda joined him after Manan Vohra (19 off 11) perished to Josh Hazlewood in the 5th over after smashing a couple of sixes and a four.
However, the next overs saw LSG score 40 runs, with KL again failing to up the tempo during the middle overs. Nevertheless, Hooda kept LSG afloat with his refreshing intent during a brilliant knock of 26-ball 45.
He upped the ante by smashing Wanindu Hasaranga for two sixes in the 15th over but eventually perished in trying to do an encore.
Rahul got to his 50 with a six off Hazlewood on his 43rd delivery, and it was pretty evident that given the asking rate, he had to tee off like a maniac to give LSG any chance of getting close.
While he lost Hooda, Marcus Stoinis announced himself by smashing a six off Hasaranga off his 2nd delivery.
However, Harshal Patel's (1/25 in 4) death masterclass and Hazlewood's penultimate over, where he dismissed both KL and Krunal, ensured that LSG eventually fell 14 runs short of the target.
Rajat Patidar's onslaught forces LSG bowlers into submission
Earlier, the Royal Challengers Bangalore rode on a staggering, majestic, unbeaten 54-ball 112 from Rajat Patidar and another brilliant cameo from Dinesh Karthik to post 207/4 in 20 overs.
It was the Rajat Patidar show at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday night as the right-handed batsman smashed the Lucknow bowlers into pieces courtesy of an audacious assault.
Patidar came to bat under immense pressure as RCB had just lost their skipper Faf du Plessis, for a duck in the first over of the innings.
Left-arm seamer Mohsin Khan was breathing fire at the time, and while Virat Kohli (25 off 24 deliveries) calmed nerves down by stroking a couple of audacious boundaries, RCB still needed someone to play at a rapid rate in the power play.
Patidar proved to be that guy as he laid into Krunal Pandya in the 6th over, smashing the left-arm orthodox for six and three boundaries to take the total to 52/1.
Kohli struggled for timing, as did Glenn Maxwell (9 off ten deliveries), and the duo perished in quick succession to Avesh and Krunal, respectively, to leave RCB reeling at 3-86 in the 11th over.
Meanwhile, Patidar continued in his merry way as he stroked his way to a 28-ball 50. He found an able accomplice in Mahipal Lomror, who came out all guns blazing, smashing Dushmantha Chameera for two consecutive boundaries in the 13th over.
Lomror was eventually dismissed for a 9-ball 14 by Ravi Bishnoi, and it would have been worse for RCB had Rahul and Hooda not dropped Karthik and Patidar in the next couple of overs.
It proved to be a costly couple of drops as Patidar and DK went on to add 84 runs in the last five to power RCB to 207/4.
Rajat started the onslaught by smashing Bishnoi (1/45/in 4) for three sixes and two fours in the 16th before DK took the matter into his hands against Avesh (1/44 in 4).
Patidar brought up his maiden T20 hundred by disdain, entirely pulling Mohsin for a six over midwicket and, in the process, becoming the first uncapped player to smoke a ton in the playoffs.
Amid the onslaught, Mohsin (1/25 in 4 overs) once again left a lasting impression with the perfect execution of his skills in both powerplay and at the death and steely temperament.
However, it was Rajat's night, and his 92-run-stand with DK ensured that RCB broke their Eliminator jinx and set up a date with Rajasthan in Q2.
Brief Scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 207/4 (20)
Rajat Patidar 112* (54), Dinesh Karthik 37* (23)
Mohsin Khan 1/25 (4)
Lucknow Super Giants: 193/6 (20)
KL Rahul 79 (58), Deepak Hooda 45 (26)
Josh Hazlewood 3/43 (4), Harshal Patel 1/25 (4)
Match Result: RCB won by 14 runs and move to Qualifier 2