Bangalore: AB de Villiers scored 57 runs off 40 balls as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kings XI Punjab by four wickets in a thrilling contest at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Friday. Umesh Yadav was awarded man of the match for his figures of 3/23 in 4 overs.
After being set a target of 156 to chase, the hosts got off to worst possible start with Brendon Mc Cullum dismissed for a golden duck by Axar Patel in the first over. Skipper Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock then tried to steady RCB innings, but Afghan youngster Mujeeb Zadran bowled a beauty of a delivery to dismiss Kohli for 21 runs.
However, the team from Bangalore got their run chase back on track thanks to half-century stand between the South African pair of de Kock and de Villiers. The pair put on 54 runs stand for the third wicket.
KXIP skipper Ravichandran Ashwin brought the team back in the game with twin blows in the 11th over. Ashwin first removed dangerous de Kock for 45 runs and then had Sarfaraz Khan caught in slip by Karun Nair .
Mandeep Singh along with AB de Villiers then put on 59 run partnership for the 5th wicket to take the game away from the Punjab side. Andrew Tye dismissed AB de Villiers in the 18th over to set up a tense finish to the game.
Mandeep Singh too was run out in the same over, while trying to take the second run. Washington Sundar kept his cool and applied the finishing touches in the first two balls of the final over to guide the team past finishing line.
The Virat Kohli-led side is hoping to get their campaign back on track after an opening game defeat, as they lock horns with Kings XI Punjab, led by Ravichandran Ashwin.
RCB lost their opening fixture to Kolkata Knight Riders after Sunil Narine snatched a crucial victory for the men in purple by smashing 17-ball fifty. For RCB, it was Brendon McCullum and AB de Villiers who got starts but failed to convert it into a big score.
Skipper Virat Kohli will be also looking to score big this time against KXIP. Other batsmen like Quinton de Kock, Sarfaraz Khan will also aim to contribute at Chinnaswamy stadium after failing to contribute with the bat in the first game.
The bowling department will once again be headed by Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes, who shared five wickets between them in the first game. The spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, who proved ineffective in the opener, will look to weave their magic on the home ground.
RCB will be tempted to bring in experienced New Zealand pacer Tim Southee in place of Chris Woakes and see how the move pays off.
The visitors, on the other hand, are coming into the match after a comfortable six-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils.
KL Rahul, who played for RCB till last season has already recorded the fastest-ever fifty in IPL, after scoring a 16-ball 51 run knock in the opening game. The Karnataka batsman will look to carry on the momentum on his home ground.
Chris Gayle, who has also donned the RCB jersey previously, could also find a place in the side. Aaron Finch, who was unavailable for the last match, is also in contention to make it into playing eleven.
David Miller and Marcus Stoinis add depth to KXIP batting order and the duo will be relied upon once again.
Coming to the bowling department, Afghanistan’s 17-year-old spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman who made a sensational IPL debut by picking up two wickets will look carry on from where he left off in the last game. Pacers Mohit Sharma and Andrew Tye will also look to put in a good performance. (DC)
