By BD Narayankar

Bengaluru, Apr 24 (UNI) In a night of high-octane drama and shifting fortunes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off a stunning heist to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, handing Rajasthan Royals a heartbreaking loss in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday.

Rajasthan seemed poised for a remarkable chase, fuelled by Dhruv Jurel’s audacious counter-attack. But from a position of strength, Rajasthan unravelled in dramatic fashion, losing four wickets in 11 balls, squandering what looked like a certain win.

Jurel had flipped the game on its head with a scintillating 22-run assault in the 18th over off a rattled Bhuvneshwar Kumar, leaving RR needing just 18 off 12 balls.

But Josh Hazlewood struck gold with a wide yorker to dismiss the rampaging Jurel for 47, and from there, the house of cards came crashing down.

Jofra Archer fell for a golden duck, slicing to cover. Shivam Dube, who had earlier powered a six and a boundary in the 18th over, miscued a low full-toss to deep mid-wicket. Then came the moment of heartbreak.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s desperate dash for a second run ended in a run-out. A wild throw from long-off was expertly gathered by Jitesh Sharma, who broke the stumps with Hasaranga’s bat still in the air. A dive might have saved him — but hesitation cost RR the match.

Jurel had kept Rajasthan in the hunt with a composed 34-ball 47, showing ingenuity under pressure with audacious scoops and reverse sweeps. He overturned a tight LBW on review in the 10th over, and smashed three towering sixes, including a monster blow off Krunal Pandya that sailed 20 rows back.

But Hazlewood’s icy nerves and Krunal Pandya's guile turned the tide. Hazlewood returned 4 wickets, including a game-changing 19th over, while Krunal’s 2 for 31 dismantled the RR's middle order.

Despite a blazing 19-ball 49 from Yashasvi Jaiswal — peppered with seven boundaries and three sixes — and a 72-run opening blitz, RR couldn’t withstand RCB’s late charge. Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag and Nitish Rana fell to poor shots or clever bowling, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s brief fireworks ended with a knuckleball from Bhuvneshwar uprooting his stumps.

Earlier in the evening, RCB posted a commanding 205 for five after being put into bat, riding on a masterclass from Virat Kohli and a rapid 50 from Devdutt Padikkal. Kohli mesmerised the home crowd with a silky 70 off 42 balls, packed with timing and flair. Padikkal, not to be outdone, hammered 50 off 27 balls as the pair stitched a 95-run partnership that formed the backbone of the innings.

Though RCB lost three quick wickets — including Rajat Patidar for a duck — Tim David (23 off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (20* off 10) provided the finishing kick. Their 42-run stand in the final 19 balls propelled RCB past the 200-mark, with Jitesh standing tall despite being struck on the helmet.

For Rajasthan, Sandeep Sharma (2/45) picked up crucial scalps, and Archer (1/33) kept things tight at the death. Hasaranga chipped in with Salt’s early wicket but couldn’t finish the job with the bat.

The result consolidated RCB's playoff hopes, while RR, after a dream start to the chase, are left nursing the wounds of a golden opportunity gone begging.

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