A batting masterclass from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers helped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru score their first two points of the campaign following their eight-wicket win over the Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on Saturday.
Photo: SPORTZPICSAfter being put in to bat, Chris Gayle and KL Rahul operated cautiously in the opening couple of overs but scored 14 off the third to get things underway. In the final over of the powerplay, Gayle took full advantage of the field restrictions and smashed 24 runs, including two huge sixes, to bring up the 50-run partnership.
Rahul also got in on the act and smashed Yuzvendra Chahal straight down the ground for a six but perished on the very next delivery with scoreboard reading 66/1. The end of the powerplay coupled with Rahul’s departure slowed the scoring for a couple of overs but amidst that spell, Gayle completed his 50 in just 28 deliveries.
Sadda Sher |
A Gayle Storm hit Mohali as the Universe Boss scored an unbeaten 99 off 64 deliveries with five sixes to propel the Shers to 175/4. |
Soon after, Mayank Agarwal too departed in the same fashion that Rahul did, smashing a six straight down the ground before being bowled over by Chahal with an almost unplayable delivery. Next man in, Sarfaraz Khan didn’t last long either as the Shers were reduced to 114/4 at the end of the 14th over.
Gayle, who planned to see out the spinners before taking on the quicks in the final four overs, executed his strategy to perfection as he, alongside Mandeep Singh, added 35 runs in the next three overs to take the Shers to 162/4 with an over left. Needing 10 off the final over to complete a well-deserved ton, Gayle took a single and hit two boundaries in the four deliveries that he faced to remain stranded at 99*, but his magnificent effort took KXIP to 175/4.
In response, RCB got off to a flyer, courtesy of openers Kohli and Parthiv Patel who scored 36 in first three overs to put the visitors on top in the chase. Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin brought himself into the attack and the inspired change worked to perfection as he got rid of Patel to get the Shers their first breakthrough.
Unha Da Sher |
After skipper Virat Kohli laid the platform, AB de Villiers carried on for the rest of the innings, scoring 59 off just 38 deliveries to take his team home. |
Despite the wicket, RCB continued in the same vein with new batsman de Villiers and Kohli picking up a pair of boundaries each in the next two overs to finish the powerplay at 63/1. The end of field restrictions helped curb the scoring rate with RCB managing only 25 in the next four overs, but with wickets in hands, the game was still leaning towards the visitors at the halfway mark in the chase.
After the quiet spell, Kohli and de Villiers upped the ante, picking up 29 runs in the next three overs, helping them get the required rate down to a shade above eight, putting them on top in the contest. Kohli also completed his half century during this spell, marshalling the chase for his team.
Two tidy overs that yielded only nine runs put the pressure back on RCB and it paid off as Kohli hit a length ball straight into the hands of Murugan Ashwin, tilting the balance of the contest. Captain Ashwin brought himself back into the attack and gave away only six as the required rate climbed to over 12.
Turning Point |
Two boundaries and a six in the first four deliveries of the 18th over took the game away from the Shers, leaving RCB with just 22 runs to get off 14 balls. |
Needing 38 off 18, Marcus Stoinis got the 18th over off to the perfect start scoring two boundaries off the first two deliveries and de Villiers followed up with a slap on the offside for a six picking up a total of from the over to bring the target down to just 20 off two overs. A four and a six in the 19th over, left the visitors needing only six in the final over and it took Stoinis just two deliveries to finish the game off and get RCB their first win of the campaign.
