Jitesh Sharma's blistering knock gives RCB their highest successful chase in IPL, will face PBKS in Qualifier 1

Jitesh Sharma played a splendid captain's knock to take Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday. The win means RCB play PBKS in Qualifier 1, while Mumbai Indians will play Gujarat Titans in the eliminator.

Sharma came to bat when the team had lost four wickets for 123 runs while chasing a massive target of 228 runs. He finished with an unbeaten 85 runs off just 33 balls, including eight fours and six sixes. He was well supported by Mayank Agarwal who was not out on 41 runs off 23 balls, scoring five fours. Virat Kohli, opening the batting, had scored 54 runs off 30 balls with 10 fours.

For LSG, William O'Rourke picked up two wickets but also went for 74 runs in his four over, marking the joint-second most expensive spell in IPL. Digvesh Rathi had taken the wicket of Sharma but it turned out to be a no ball as he had crossed the wide line in his delivery stride. He also attempted a non-striker run out (Mankad) but the umpire ruled it as not out as the bowler had completed his delivery stride before the attempt.

Earlier, LSG captain Rishabh Pant, who had just 151 runs in 13 matches in the IPL so far, smashed a stunning century. The 27-year-old, who walked in at number 3 inside the powerplay, reached the milestone of 54 balls. He ended the innings with an unbeaten 118 runs off 61 balls, including 11 fours and 8 sixes.

His knock helped LSG post a massive total of 227/3 runs as he shared a partnership of 151 runs with Mitchell Marsh, who scored 67 runs off 37 balls, including four fours and five sixes.

For RCB, the best bowler was debutant Nuwan Thushara, who gave away only 26 runs in overs and picked up a wicket.