Mohali: Royal Challengers Bangalore finally tasted victory in this IPL season, notching up a eight-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in an IPL game here on Saturday. Invited to bat, Kings XI Punjab posted 173 for 4, riding on Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 99 runs off 64 balls. RCB then returned to overhaul the target in 19.2 overs, courtesy fifties by Virat Kohli (67) and AB de Villers (59 not out).
Earlier, Swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle missed a well-deserved century by a whisker, smashing an unbeaten 99 off 64 balls to power Kings XI Punjab to a 173 for four. The 39-year-old West Indian, who had suffered a back spasm after last match, carried his bat, recording his highest score of this IPL season blasting five sixes and as many as 10 hits to the fence to single-handedly anchor the Punjab innings.
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Invited to bat, Gayle stitched a 66-run opening stand off 38 balls with KL Rahul (18) and kept the scoreboard ticking even though he lost partners on the other end at regular intervals. RCB could have dismissed Gayle in the first over itself when he was hit on the leg by Umesh Yadav but Kohli didn’t go for a DRS and the West Indian escaped. Gayle made RCB pay for the mistake as he hit a four and six off Umesh’s next over, before smashing Navdeep Saini for a boundary.
Rahul joined the party, sending Umesh for a couple of fours. In the sixth over, Gayle exploded as he welcomed Mohammad Siraj with a four at long off and followed it up with a six over long-on and another boundary across cover. He then pulled another one over square leg before sending the ball across the fine leg as KXIP amassed 24 runs to end the powerplay at 60 for no loss. Yuzvendra Chahal was then introduced into the attack and Rahul lifted him over long-on for a maximum but the spinner had him stumped in the next delivery to produce a crucial breakthrough.
Brief Score
Kings XI Punjab: 173-4 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 99; Y Chahal 2/33) lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore: 174-2 in 19.2 overs (Virat Kohli 67; R Ashwin 1/30).
