Published: Apr 20, 2013, 11:06 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 20, 2013, 11:06 PM (IST)
Chris Gayle scored an unbeaten 49 to guide Bangalore to a comfortable win © PTI
By Devarchit Varma
Bangalore: Apr 20, 2013
Royal Challengers Bangalore produced an all-round show to thrash the Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the 27th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 at Bangalore on Saturday. With their emphatic win, the Royal Challengers moved to the top of the IPL 2013 points table.
After bowling out the Rajasthan side for a paltry score of 117, RCB chased down the target in 17.5 overs, losing three wickets.
Chris Gayle top-scored with 49 not out from 44 balls, which included four boundaries and a six. Saurabh Tiwary remained unbeaten on 25 from 29 balls, studded with a six and two hits to the fence.
Shane Watson returned to bowling after a long time and grabbed the key wickets of Tillakaratne Dilshan and AB de Villiers to provide his side some hope after their poor batting display.
In their chase of 118 to win, Royal Challengers Bangalore openers Gayle and Dilshan gave a brisk start to their side, reaching 48 in the first six overs.
Dilshan cracked consecutive boundaries in the second over off S Sreesanth to set the tone early on and went on to score 25 off 22, which included five hits to the fence.
Watson, who rolled his arm over after a long time, provided Rajasthan the first breakthrough in the seventh over when he got Dilshan caught by wicketkeeper Yagnik.
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain and the current Orange Cap holder in IPL 2013, Virat Kohli flopped with the bat after a good run in previous matches, as he was cleaned up by James Faulkner for one.
The hosts slipped further when Ajit Chandila took a fine catch at mid-off position to dismiss the in-form AB de Villiers off Watson, which raised Rajasthan’s hopes.
But Saurabh Tiwary joined the explosive Gayle and the two batted cautiously to take Bangalore to a seven–wicket win.
Earlier in the match, Royal Challengers Bangalore produced an inspired bowling performance to bowl out Rajasthan Royals for a modest total of 117 from 19.4 overs.
Rajasthan suffered a collapse and slipped from 104 for four to 117 all out from 19.4 overs as Bangalore gained command.
R Vinay Kumar and RP Singh shared six wickets between them and Caribbean pacer Ravi Rampaul bagged two as the Bangalore pacers dominated against the Rajasthan batsmen.
Rahul Dravid top scored with 35 while Stuart Binny scored 33 as other RR batsmen found it tough batting against the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowlers.
Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 117 all-out in 19.4 overs (Rahul Dravid 35, Stuart Binny 33; RP Singh 2 for 13, R Vinay Kumar 3 for 18) lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore 123 for 3 in 17.5 overs (Chris Gayle 49*, Saurabh Tiwary 25*; Shane Watson 2 for 11) by 7 wickets.
Man of the Match: R Vinay Kumar
(Devarchit Varma is a cricket fanatic who finds nothing more exciting to do than to write, watch or talk about the sport. Having played the game at club and college level, he now pursues his passion as a scribe)
