Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore reach IPL playoffs

Delhi Capitals qualified for the Indian Premier League playoffs after beating Royal Challengers Bangalore by six wickets on Monday, The Associated Press reported.

Royal Challengers Bangalore also sneaked into the four-team playoffs by stretching its bowling to 19 overs to edge Kolkata Knight Riders on better net run-rate in the standings.

Delhi Capitals ended its four-match losing streak to meet the league-leading Mumbai Indians in the first qualifier on Thursday.

The winner advances to the final, the loser to a playoff eliminator.

Royal Challenges Bangalore made 152-7 and Delhi reached 154-4.

Kolkata Knight Riders can qualify only if Sunrisers Hyderabad lose to Mumbai Indians on Tuesday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will finish third or fourth and meet Kolkata or Hyderabad in the second qualifier.

The winner will take on the loser of the first qualifier for a place in the final next week.

Delhi Capitals’ run chase was anchored by half-centuries from Ajiknya Rahane (60) and Shikhar Dhawan (54), but Royal Challnegers Bangalore ensured they edged Kolkata in the standings by dragging the game to 19 overs.

Rahane tallied only 36 runs in his previous four games and finally came good by hitting five fours and a six before falling to left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, who took 2-26.

Dhawan also regained form after two consecutive ducks, and hit six boundaries.

Virat Kohli said he knew the game should go beyond 17.3 overs in order to get a place in the playoffs on better run-rate than Kolkata.