IPL 2015 Results: Scores, Points Table, Fixtures After Bangalore vs. Rajasthan

The weather denied us what would have surely been a thrilling chase in the match between the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore as the game was called off because of rain.

Batting first, Bangalore posted an excellent total of 200 for seven from their 20 overs. After losing both openers inside three overs, AB de Villiers rebuilt the innings superbly with an excellent 57, but 17-year-old Sarfaraz Khan stole the show with an unbeaten 21-ball knock of 45. 

Chinnaswamy Stadium often favours the chasing team, and while 10 runs an over is an intimidating run rate, Rajasthan will have fancied their chances. But the rain poured down in the interval, and despite the covers being brought off on a couple of occasions, the poor conditions failed to abate with enough time to spare and the game was abandoned.

Read on for further details of how this game played out and a closer examination of the standings after this result.

Updated Standings

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Pos	Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Net RR	Pts
1	CSK	7	6	1	0	0	+1.386	12
2	RR	9	5	2	0	2	+0.140	12
3	RCB	7	3	3	0	1	+0.519	7
4	KKR	7	3	3	0	1	+0.220	7
5	SRH	7	3	4	0	0	-0.074	6
6	DD	7	3	4	0	0	-0.395	6
7	MI	7	2	5	0	0	-0.553	4
8	KXIP	7	2	5	0	0	-1.093	4

Updated Schedule

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Date	Time (BST)	Fixture
April 30	3:30 p.m.	Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings
May 1	11:30 a.m.	Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab
May 1	3:30 p.m.	Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals
May 2	11:30 a.m.	Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders
May 2	3:30 p.m.	Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings
May 3	11:30 a.m.	Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians
May 3	3:30 p.m.	Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils
May 4	11:30 a.m.	Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore
May 4	3:30 p.m.	Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad
May 5	3:30 p.m.	Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils
May 6	3:30 p.m.	Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab
May 7	11:30 a.m.	Rajasthan Royals v Sunrisers Hyderabad
May 7	3:30 p.m.	Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils
May 8	3:30 p.m.	Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians
May 9	11:30 a.m.	Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab
May 9	3:30 p.m.	Delhi Daredevils v Sunrisers Hyderabad
May 10	11:30 a.m.	Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore
May 10	3:30 p.m.	Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals
May 11	3:30 p.m.	Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab
May 12	3:30 p.m.	Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings
May 13	3:30 p.m.	Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore
May 14	3:30 p.m.	Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders
May 15	3:30 p.m.	Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore
May 16	11:30 p.m.	Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings
May 16	3:30 p.m.	Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders
May 17	11:30 a.m.	Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Daredevils
May 17	3:30 p.m.	Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians
May 19	3:30 p.m.	Qualifier 1 - TBC v TBC
May 20	3:30 p.m.	Eliminator - TBC v TBC
May 22	3:30 p.m.	Qualifier 2 - TBC v TBC
May 24	3:30 p.m.	Final - TBC v TBC

Schedule courtesy of ESPNcricinfo.

Rain Frustrates Bangalore After Mammoth Total

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Match Abandoned: Royal Challengers Bangalore (200/7)

The Chinnaswamy Stadium is a ground that has often favoured the chasing team, so it was little surprise to see Rajasthan Royals insert Royal Challengers Bangalore in to bat after winning the toss.

Bangalore made the most of their first go on the wicket though, even if they did lose both openers in the opening three overs. Chris Gayle was out for 10 off just the fourth ball of the day, before Virat Kohli—who never looked comfortable at the crease—fell for just one run in the third over.

Tim Southee was the man who snaffled both wickets, and with two dangerous players back in the dressing room, Rajasthan will have sensed blood with Bangalore toiling on 19 for two. But AB de Villiers and Mandeep Singh did an excellent rebuilding job.

They put on 74 runs for the third wicket, as they both played astute knocks. De Villiers wasn’t anything like his usual brutishly aggressive self, but having been promoted to three in the order, there was more responsibility on his shoulders. As noted by Freddie Wilde of ESPN Cricinfo, it’s not a role he’s well acquainted with either:

"

This is only the third time that AB de Villiers has batted at number three for #RCB in 68 matches. #IPL #RCBvRR #RR

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 29, 2015"

Nonetheless, he played superbly, even as Bangalore lost Singh for 27. But just as De Villiers was beginning to cut loose, he was run out for a fine 57 in the 14th over. Remarkably, the dangerous Dinesh Karthik was also run out for 27 in the 17th over, leaving Bangalore 152 for five and in danger of losing momentum.

The fearlessness of youth quickly solved that issued, as 17-year-old Sarfaraz Khan played a gem of a knock in the latter stages, smashing an unbeaten 45 from just 21 balls. As noted by Alt Cricket, his effort put the Royal Challengers back on course for a major total:

"

Incredibly, Sarfaraz Khan's innings has meant that AB de Villiers' run out has barely been felt. #IPL

— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) April 29, 2015"

His superb salvo pushed Bangalore to 200 for seven from their 20 overs, a score that Kohli’s men will have been delighted with. But on what was clearly a decent wicket, Rajasthan will have fancied their chances in the chase.

However, their innings was put on hold. As we can see here courtesy of the tournament’s official Twitter account, the rain came tumbling down in the interval:

"

It is absolutely pouring down at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. We will keep you updated. #RCBvsRR #PepsiIPL pic.twitter.com/EdiKms88F7

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 29, 2015"

The weather did tease the spectators in situ, as on a couple of occasions the rain did cease, prompting the removal of the covers. But every time the pitch was cleared the drizzle returned, and eventually, the umpires determined no more play was possible, meaning each team will take a point.

Rajasthan will be the happier of the two sides, as chasing in excess of 200 is perilously difficult. But Bangalore, despite their obvious disappointment, will take some positives from their batting effort.

De Villiers definitely looks at home at three, and his adaptable array of skills can certainly be better utilised by thrusting him into the action earlier. But the star man was Sarfaraz.

While this Royal Challengers batting lineup is bristling with some of the best batsmen in world cricket, this young man could well prove to be an ace in the pack for Bangalore.