RCB book IPL playoff berth

Bengaluru, May 17 (IANS) Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) confirmed their berth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs after their concluding league match against Delhi Daredevils was abandoned midway due to heavy showers here on Sunday.

The no-result gave RCB one point which took their tally to 16 and into second place behind Chennai Super Kings (CSK) while Daredevils ended their disappointing league campaign on 11 points.

Batting first, Daredevils made 187/5 on the back of half-centuries by opener Quinton de Kock (70, 39b, 9x4, 3x6) and skipper JP Duminy (67 not out, 43b, 4x4, 3x6).

After a brief delay due to a drizzle, RCB began their reply but showers that grew in intensity as time went by, forced the players indoors after just 1.2 overs with the home team on two for no loss. With the rains not abating, the umpires eventually called off the game.

Earlier, the Daredevils innings looked far from convincing despite the big total that was possible mainly due to de Kock and Duminy, who chanced their arms with some success but received little support at the other end.

Young Shreyas Iyer (20) and de Kock provided a solid start for Daredevils with a 55-run stand for the first wicket before the former departed, caught at point.

Duminy and de Kock then added a further 55 runs for the second wicket when RCB bowlers struck a few telling blows as four wickets fell in as many overs.

First to go was de Kock, who was out to a brilliant running catch by RCB skipper Virat Kohli, while Yuvraj Singh (11), Kedar Jadhav (0) and Angelo Mathews (1) did not last long as Daredevils slid from 110/1 in the 12th over to 141/5 in the 16th.

Despite the collapse, Duminy carried on as he lashed a few big hits to ensure his side a very defendable total but rains dashed his hopes of finishing the season on a winning note.