IPL PICS: Gopal 'tricks' in rain-ruined 10-over game

Images from Tuesday’s IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, in Bangalore.

IMAGE: Rajasthan Royals's Shreyas Gopal celebrates after dismissing Royal Challengers Bangalore's Marcus Stoinis and completing a hat-trick in Tuesday's IPL match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru. Photograph: BCCI

Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal took a memorable hat-trick in a rain-curtailed five-overs-a-side contest against Royal Challengers Bangalore that was eventually called off due to intermittent showers, at the M Chinnaswazmy stadium, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday.

The ‘No-result’ meant Royal Challengers Bangalore will not figure in the play-offs for the third successive season.

Needing 22 off the last 10 deliveries, the Royals looked set to pocket two points, but rain lashed the Chinnaswamy again and both teams had to settle for a point each.

The 'no-result' keeps Royals mathematically alive in the tournament as they have 11 points from 13 games with a match to go.

IMAGE: Sanju Samson scored 28 off 13 balls, including three sixes and two fours. Photograph: BCCI

Chasing 63 for victory, the visitors were 41 for one in 3.2 overs when rain returned.

Sanju Samson (28 off 13) was their top-scorer. Liam Livingstone was unbeaten on 11 off 7 balls.

With the solitary point from the abandoned game, RCB swelled their tally to nine points from 13 games, ending all their hopes of progressing in the tournament.

Earlier, Royals won the toss and opted to field, but rain returned to delay the start of the game by three hours and 30 minutes.

IMAGE: Liam Livingstone takes the catch to dismiss Virat Kohli and give Shreyas Gopal the first wicket in his hat-trick feat. Photograph: BCCI

The game finally began after a long delay, courtesy a commendable effort by the ground staff which readied the turf following multiple spells of heavy rain.

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli (25 off 7) was on fire from ball one, depositing pacer Varun Aaron for a straight six. The loyal fans of the hosts, who stayed back for hours in the hope of a game, got their money's worth as Kohli smashed Aaron for another six before AB de Villiers (10 off 4) got into the act and the first over went for 23 runs.

IMAGE: Oshane Thomas appeals for the wicket of Pawan Negi. Photograph: BCCI

However, Gopal brought Royals right back into the game in the next over by removing Kohli and de Villiers off successive deliveries before sending back Marcus Stoinis for a memorable hat-trick.

With the batsmen that followed going for big hits from the word go, RCB did manage to cross the 50-run mark.

Royals pacer Oshane Thomas too made instant impact by taking two wickets in one over.

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