Powell, Hetmyer still in with a chance of making IPL final

AHMEDABAD, India (CMC):

RAJASTHAN ROYALS qualified for the preliminary final of the Indian Premier League with the West Indies Twenty20 World Cup captain Rovman Powell and World Cup-bound teammate Shimron Hetmyer playing minor roles in their four-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bangalore yesterday.

Left-handed batsman Hetmyer made 26, and Powell was not out on 16. Royals used consistent batting down the order to complete a successful chase of 173 in the elimination final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

World Cup-bound India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal led the Royals batting with 45, Riyan Parag got 36, and Englishman Tom Kohler-Cadmore added 20 to lead the run chase for the Royals and eliminate RCB from a chance to play in the title match.

The result meant that Royals, the inaugural winners of the IPL, will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the preliminary final on Friday at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to determine which side will meet Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on Sunday at the same venue.

The Knight Riders have World Cup-bound Andre Russell and former West Indies spinner Sunil Narine in their squad.

Royals beat Chennai Super Kings to win the first IPL title in 2008 – but they have only reached the final on one other occasion two years ago when Gujarat Titans beat them by seven wickets.

Powell, Hetmyer, and Russell are missing from the West Indies line-up for three T20 Internationals against South Africa on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at Sabina Park in the Jamaica capital of Kingston because their IPL sides have reached the knockout stages of the IPL.

Powell’s deputy for the World Cup and strike bowler Alzarri Joseph was on the RCB roster, but he did not play in the eliminator. He is now expected to return to the Caribbean and link up with the West Indies squad in Jamaica.

Earlier, the RCB batting promised much but failed to deliver, restricted to 172 for eight from their allocation of 20 overs after they were put in to bat.

Impact player Rajat Patidar hit the top score of 34 for RCB, India batting maestro Virat Kohli made 33, and Mahipal Lomror got 32. Pacer Avesh Khan was the most successful bowler for Royals with three for 44 from his allotted four overs.

Indian off-spin bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for the Royals with two for 19 from his four overs to earn the Player-of-the-Match award.