Rajasthan Kings advanced to the grand finale of the Legend 90 League with a commanding six-wicket win against Delhi Royals in Qualifier 2 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The Kings were propelled by Phil Mustard’s not out 53 from 34 balls and Rajat Singh’s explosive 56 off just 28 deliveries to successfully chase down the target in an exciting match.
Rajasthan Kings and Chhattisgarh Warriors will face off in the Legend 90 League final on Monday. The match is set to start at 7:15 pm and will include a closing ceremony featuring a performance by Bollywood star Tamannaah Bhatia prior to the game.
DLS openers capitalise on Poor Fielding by RK
After winning the toss and choosing to field first, RK had the chance to dismiss opener S Lumba, but his catch was dropped. Lumba seized that opportunity by playing aggressively and hitting bowlers all over the ground. His opening partner, Lendl Simmons, also supported him effectively by matching his aggression in a thoughtful manner.
Calypso Flair on the show
Trinidadian Lendl Simmons was in excellent form, although he initially played a supporting role to Lumba. However, after Lumba was dismissed for an impressive 60 runs, Simmons took charge of maintaining the innings’ momentum. He played some fantastic shots that entertained the crowd, and just as he seemed poised to score big, a rising ball struck his jaw, forcing him to leave the field with a personal score of 63. Skipper Bipul Sharma then hit several powerful shots in the final overs, helping his team reach a substantial total of 167/5 in the allotted 90 balls.
RK openers started the Run Chase Steadily
In pursuit of 168 runs, Rajasthan Kings began steadily with Phil Mustard and Asad Pathan forming a 45-run opening partnership. Both players exhibited aggressive batting early on, punishing any short deliveries by cutting and pulling them with disdain. One particularly cheeky shot from Asad Pathansaw him step away from the crease, exposing all his stumps, as he delicately tapped the ball with soft hands through point and gully, showcasing his full repertoire as a batsman.
DLS bowlers Struck back with quick wickets
The Royals’ bowling attack acted quickly, dismissing Pathan, Gaurav Tomar, and captain Faiz Fazal in quick succession, which left Rajasthan at 74/3. Former Jamaican fast bowler Jerome Taylor caused the trouble by taking two rapid wickets of Pathan and Tomar. When skipper Fazal attempted to hit a short delivery for six but was caught brilliantly by Gunathilika, the Royals appeared to be in serious trouble. PhilMustrad would have been dismissed as well, but Jerome Taylor failed to catch the ball.
Rajat Singh the destroyer and Mustard the finisher
As pressure increased, Rajat Singh joined Mustard on the field. Singh delivered a bold performance, scoring 56 runs off just 28 balls to reinvigorate Rajasthan’s chances. His aggressive approach placed significant strain on the Royals’ bowlers. Despite being run out in the second-to-last over, the Kings required 15 runs from eight balls. Mustard stepped up at a pivotal moment, hitting consecutive sixes to secure his half-century and bring Rajasthan close to victory. Needing only three runs in the final over, the Kings easily clinched a six-wicket triumph.
With this victory, Rajasthan Kings have secured their spot in the Legend 90 League final, where they will compete against Chhattisgarh Warriors on Monday. The eagerly awaited finale will not only determine the champion but will also include a closing ceremony featuring a performance by Bollywood star Tamannaah Bhatia prior to the match.
