Bangalore wins the battle of the Royals

After disciplined bowling and fielding restrict Rajasthan, Kohli & de Villiers wrap it up easily

April 25, 2015 02:21 am | Updated 02:21 am IST - AHMEDABAD

A.B. de Villiers offered value for money to the Twenty20 fan with astonishing hand-eye co-ordination in 47 not out off 34 balls, laced with six fours. Virat Kohli led the charge with a compact, confident 62 not out off 46 balls as Royal Challengers Bangalore coasted to an effortless nine-wicket victory in an IPL-8 league match. Rajasthan Royals’ target of 130 was too low to induce anxiety in the visitors dugout.

RCB replied with 134 for one in 16.1 overs, the batsmen partly making up for the stumble in defeats earlier in the competition and complementing another standout effort by the bowling unit, where Mitchell Starc lent his might with a three-wicket burst.

Playing on home turf at the Sardar Patel stadium, Royals were on the backfoot defending a low score, despite a gutsy show by spinner Pravin Tambe (4-0-36-0). Chris Gayle got a stage to perform but Shane Watson outwitted the huge West Indian with a slow bouncer. The edged high ball was plucked by fully stretched Sanju Samson.

de Villiers joined opener Kohli at the crease and the South African’s status as an entertainer was confirmed when the fans chanted “AB, AB” in anticipation of fireworks. RCB cruised to 49 for one in the Power Play. Kohli busy at the crease, flashing bat at every ball meant the assault was round the corner. Royals baited with canny off-spinner Tambe, daring the batsmen into risky shots.

RCB’s second-wicket pair focused on the task at hand. Kohli stroked the ball along the carpet and slogged three sixes into the stands for a 50 off 38 balls. de Villiers walk out of the crease for imperious forcing shots against fast bowlers as both chiselled away at the target and 100 came up in 13.1 overs.

Royals were earlier reined in by a disciplined attack and sharp catching. Steve Smith top-scored with 31 from 26 balls, but walked off swinging his bat at the turf in frustration. Stuart Binny worked the angles and innovated in 20 off 22 balls during a sixth-wicket stand with the Aussie. With the exception of skipper Watson, the others struggled to hit the ball off the square.

RCB bowlers kept heads up to put the brakes on big hitters in the Royals’ camp, assisted by catches in the outfielders and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik snapping up two. Pace ace Mitchell Starc and seamer Harshal Patel stuck to their line in the face of desperate hitting. Spinners Iqbal Abdulla and Yuzvendra Chahal forced the initial breakthrough.

Watson fed off the pace generated by Starc in an Aussie face-off. Rahane gave seamer Harshal Patel the charge but was trapped in front by a slower delivery.

Royals lost the openers before the PowerPlay when Watson attacked Chahal but could not clear Starc on the ropes.

Kohli got himself into position to effect a smart run-out of Karun Nair at the bowlers end, collecting a sharp throw from Patel. The former turned his arm over to complete Chahal’s over, after the bowler went away to treat an injured hand.

RCB was firmly in the game at the halfway stage, denying Royals easy pickings. The momentum swung firmly RCB’s way with back-to-back dismissals of Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson, leaving Smith in sole charge of the fightback.

Speeding up the scoring is familiar situation for the Australian. He got into the mood moving across beyond the off stump to swing a ball from Wiese to square leg, then swung against the line to Starc and scooped an easy catch.

RCB chose the Gayle option in place of Rilee Rossouw, Mandeep was preferred to Manvinder Bisla in a reshuffle of openers by the visitors. Royals added variety to the bowling by choosing Dhawal in place of Rahul Tewatia.

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