Hyderabad: Royal Challengers Bangalore were knocked out of the Indian Premier league (IPl) with their nine-run loss to Deccan Chargers at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 133, Royal Challengers buckled under the pressure of their must-win situation and managed only 123 for nine in 20 overs.
Deccan Chargers’ second consecutive win at home also helped title holders Chennai Super Kings qualify for the play-offs as the fourth team. Both Super Kings and Royal Challengers finished with 17 points each but Chennai went ahead on the basis of their better run rate.
With the fourth win of the season, Chargers moved out of the bottom spot for the first time in the season and finished eighth ahead of Pune Warriors.
It was an all-round performance by Deccan Chargers in their last match of the season. Put in, a late charge by Jean Paul Duminy (74 off 53) helped Chargers reach a respectable total of 132 for seven in 20 overs.
Fiery bowling by Dale Steyn (3-8), key breakthroughs by Amit Mishra (2-26) and useful contribution by Ashish Reddy (3-25) helped the hosts restrict Royal Challengers to 123 for nine in 20 overs.
Skipper Virat Kohli top scored with 42 while Saurabh Tiwary (30) and Chris Gayle (27) came up with valuable contributions but not enough to take them accross the line.
Earlier, a late charge Duminy (74 off 53) helped Chargers reach a respectable total. The South African’s knock was studded with four boundaries and five sixes, providing some entertainment to the holiday crowd, which was otherwise disappointed by the poor show by top order of the home team. (IANS)