NEW DELHI: Delhi Capitals crushed Rajasthan Royals’ playoff hopes with a convincing five-wicket victory while Royal Challengers Bangalore, already out of contention, signed off in style beating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the penultimate round of Indian Premier League matches last night.
Hyderabad, on 12 points, are still in the race for the fourth and last playoff spot as Kolkata are also on 12 points but with today’s match against Mumbai in hand.
A victory will see Kolkata qualify while a defeat will allow Hyderabad to squeeze through.
Delhi, who have already qualified for the playoffs, first rode on veterans Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra’s superb efforts with the ball to restrict Rajasthan to 115 for nine and then chased down the target in 16.1 overs, with Rishabh Pant remaining unbeaten on a 38-ball 53.
In the other match in Bangalore, Shimron Hetmyer and Gurkeerat Singh Mann engineered an incredible turnaround to score a four-wicket victory over Hyderabad.
Both Hetmyer and Gurkeerat hit blazing fifties as Bangalore recovered from a hopelessly placed 20 for three in the third over to reach the 176-run target with four balls to spare.
The win meant Bangalore finished with 11 points while Hyderabad stay on 12 with their hopes of a playoff spot depending on today’s match between Kolkata and Mumbai.
Earlier, Kane Williamson dealt in fours and sixes as Hyderabad plundered 28 runs in the final over to reach a challenging 175 for seven.