A B de Villiers stroked his way to the second fastest fifty in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) while Tillakaratne Dilshan struck an equally brisk half-century as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) posted a solid 189 for three against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Jaipur on Monday.
Published: Apr 23, 2012, 09:38 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 23, 2012, 09:38 PM (IST)
Tillakaratne Dilshan top scored for Royal Challengers Bangalore with 76 runs © PTI
Jaipur: Apr 23, 2012
A B de Villiers stroked his way to the second fastest fifty in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) while Tillakaratne Dilshan struck an equally brisk half-century as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) posted a solid 189 for three against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Jaipur on Monday.
De Villiers slammed 59 off just 23 balls, consuming two balls less to get to his fifty, while Dilshan hit 76 off 58.
While Dilshan hit 10 fours and a six, de Villiers smashed three fours and five sixes during their 122-run fourth-wicket partnership, which came off just 50 balls, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Bangalore were in a spot of bother at 67 for three in the 12th over after being invited to bat by Rajasthan skipper Rahul Dravid.
To start with, Bangalore’s plans were a bit spoiled after an unwell Chris Gayle could not open the innings.
The opening combo of Virat Kohli and Dilshan failed to give Bangalore the start they were looking for, as the former was dismissed by pacer Pankaj Singh with just 23 on the board in the fourth over.
Mayank Agarwal got a start but could not consolidate, with Brad Hogg having him caught by another Australian Brad Hodge at the deep.
Hogg dealt Bangalore their biggest blow of the innings when he trapped danger man Gayle for a cheap score, to leave the visitors struggling at 67 for three in the 12th over.
But the momentum seemed to have swung Bangalore’s way after de Villiers joined Dilshan at the crease.
De Villiers was on the money straightaway, hitting Ajit Chandila for two successive sixes — the first over deep midwicket, for the first of the innings, and then charged down the wicket to slam the bowler over the same region.
The fifty stand was up in just 23 balls as Dilshan picked Siddharth Trivedi for a six and four in the 16th over.
De Villiers then hit Kevon Cooper and Trivedi for three more sixes, two off the later, to help Bangalore finish the innings on a high. (PTI)
Brief Score: RCB 189 for 3 in 20 overs (Tillakaratne Dilshan 76*, AB de Villiers 59*; Brad Hogg 2 for 39, Pankaj Singh 1 for 32) vs RR
