Published: Apr 24, 2016, 07:34 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 24, 2016, 08:19 PM (IST)
Gujarat Lions (GL) ease through 6-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Match 19 of IPL 2016 at Rajkot. Dinesh Karthik’s half-century from 39 came in at the right time to help GL make their run chase easier. But the icing on the cake was taken away by West Indies champion Dwayne Bravo with the finishing boundary straight towards the fence. The impetus was provided by skipper Suresh Raina and Karthik’s 50-runs stand in 15.1 overs, with Raina contributing 28 runs including 3-fours. It started off with Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith achieving 47-runs stand with McCullum missing his first half-century by 8 runs. While Smith playing his first and securing 32 runs including 3-fours and 2-sixes. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Gujarat Lions vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2016, Match 19 at Rajkot
GL started their chase with opening pair of Dwayne Smith, playing his first IPL 2016 for a new franchise and his previous partner Brendon McCullum, bringing back memories of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) days. They were off the mark with McCullum providing the first boundary in 1.4 overs on Kane Richardson spell towards fine leg. Smith got his first as well in 3rd over. Smith and McCullum continued the momentum until the 5th over securing successful 47-runs stand and providing the initial push to GL. McCullum was gone right after that with McCullum contributing 42 runs missing his half-century once again by an easy catch with AB de Villiers making no mistake and Richardson receiving his first for the game.
Suprisingly, Aaron Finch was missing from action and found skipper Raina entering the crease at No.3 as always. Before Raina and Smith could build on their stand, the latter was off the field sooner in 8.2 over c & b by RCB’s new mysterious spinner Taibraz Shamsi. Now the game was on the hands of skipper and new batsman in at No.4 Dinesh Karthik and they were successful in doing their part taking ones and twos in between the wickets. Raina and Karthik comfortably secured 50-runs stand by the 15th over, but Raina was dismissed for 28, this time Chahal getting his first and an easy catch by Iqbal Abdulla.
Earlier, RCB posted target of 180 for 2 with skipper Kohli securing his maiden T20 century and KL Rahul supporting him adding his maiden half-century. Both achieved 121-runs stand, the highest in IPL 2016 so far. AB de Villiers and Kohli once again showed their talents getting their 5 th 50-runs stand and being the first to do so in IPL 2016. RCB are No.5 in points table while GL are No.4 .
Brief Scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore 180 for 2 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 100*, AB de Villiers 20, Rahul 51; Dhawan Kulkarni 1 for 39, Pravin Tamber 1 for 24) lose to Gujarat Lions 182 for 4 in 19.3 overs (Dwayne Smith 32, Brendon McCullum 42, Suresh Raina 28, Dinesh Karthik 50*; Yuzvendra Chahal 1 for 33, Taibraz Shamsi 1 for 21)
(Shruti Hariharan is a Content Writer with CricketCountry. You can follow her on Twitter at @Shruti_2890)
