A packed Chinnaswamy Stadium, high on music and applause, slipped into stunned silence as Deccan Chargers defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets in their DLF-IPL III encounter here on Thursday.
Chargers, searching for that elusive spark, found lustre in Tirumalasetti Suman’s unbeaten 78 (57b, 6x4, 3x6) as the batsman first anchored and then accelerated while chasing Royal Challengers’ 184 for six in 20 overs. Chargers finished with 186 for three in 19.2 overs with Andrew Symonds (53 not out, 24b, 5x4, 3x6) hastening the gallop past the finish line.
Stylish finish
Symonds thumped a six and a four off the first two deliveries of the last over bowled by Vinay Kumar to complete the win in style.
The fourth victory from 10 matches revived Chargers’ hopes of staying afloat in the tournament, while Royal Challengers, which suffered its fifth loss in 10 outings, needs to turn things around in its next four games.
Much hinged on skipper Adam Gilchrist as Chargers set off in pursuit of a stiff target. However, Anil Kumble darted a googly past the batsman and wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa did the rest. Gilchrist made 32. It got worse for Chargers when Rohit Sharma found a waiting Dale Steyn while launching into Vinay.
Suman then took charge with some free-flowing drives and meaty blows. Along with Symonds, he scripted a 91-run partnership for the unbroken fourth-wicket.
Earlier, a calm Jacques Kallis (68, 44b, 9x4, 1x6) and an aggressive Virat Kohli (58, 35b, 4x4, 4x6) rescued the Challengers innings that had struggled for momentum after Gilchrist opted to field. Kallis was a mix of caution and dash while his opening partner Manish Pandey was cleaned up by Ryan Harris.
Rahul Dravid, at last finding his usual No. 3 slot, tried to clatter Pragyan Ojha, but only succeeded in spooning a catch. The host was in more trouble as Robin Uthappa and Ross Taylor fell cheaply to make it 68 for four.
Kohli on fire
Kallis, however, carried on without fuss and found an ally in Kohli. The duo added 95 off 52 balls, the high-point being Kohli’s demolition of Symonds with two sixes and two fours in one over. Despite Kohli’s rollicking 58 off 35 balls with four fours and an equal number of sixes, Royal Challengers finished with a score that failed to survive Chargers’ assault.
The scores:
Royal Challengers Bangalore: M. Pandey b Harris 1 (6b) , J. Kallis c Harris b Marsh 68 (44b, 9x4, 1x6) , R. Dravid c Rohit b Ojha 26 (25b, 2x4, 1x6) , R. Uthappa c Gilchrist b Symonds 2 (5b) , R. Taylor lbw b Ojha 1 (2b) , V. Kohli c Symonds b Harris 58 (35b, 4x4, 4x6) , C. White (not out) 13 (3b, 2x6) , Praveen (not out) 0 (0b) ; Extras (lb-1, w-14): 15; Total (for six wkts. in 20 overs): 184.
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-60, 3-63, 4-68, 5-163, 6-172.
Deccan Chargers bowling: Harris 4-0-37-2, Harmeet 1-0-13-0, R.P. Singh 4-0-38-0, Marsh 4-0-37-1, Ojha 4-0-24-2, Symonds 3-0-34-1.
Deccan Chargers: A. Gilchrist st. Uthappa b Kumble 32 (19b, 3x4, 2x6) , M. Mishra c Uthappa b Praveen 9 (11b, 2x4) , T. Suman (not out) 78 (57b, 6x4, 3x6) , Rohit c Steyn b Vinay 6 (5b, 1x4) , A. Symonds (not out) 53 (24b, 5x4, 3x6) ; Extras (lb-2, w-6): 8; Total (for three wkts. in 19.2 overs): 186.
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-88, 3-95.
Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling: Praveen 4-0-37-1, Kumble 4-0-38-1, Steyn 4-0-38-0, Kallis 4-0-32-0, Vinay 3.2-0-39-1.
