Mumbai lad Ajinkya Rahane, en route to the first century of IPL- V, clobbers Bangalore bowlers
Bangalore Ajinkya Rahane stole the limelight, smashing the first century of Indian Premier League season five to power R
ajasthan Royals to a comfortable 59- run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, PTI reports.
Rahane produced a scintillating 103- run unbeaten knock off just 60 balls and together with Owais Shah ( 60) stitched 121 runs off 8.2 overs for the second wicket to guide Rajasthan to a mammoth 195 for two after opting to bat at the R Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Rahane carried on his good form in the tournament and showed his intentions from the onset. He decorated his unconquered innings with 12 boundaries and five huge sixes to stamp his authority on the highest run- scorer of the tournament list.
Rahane was a treat to watch as he pulled, cut and drove RCB bowlers with consummate ease during his century knock.
Coming in at number three position, Shah provided Rahane the perfect support from the other end, scoring a quickfire 60 off just 29 balls during which he struck five fours and as many sixes.
Chasing the formidable total, RCB lost the plot after a quick start and lost wickets at regular intervals to be bowled out for 136 in 19.5 overs.
Trivedi starred with the ball for Rajasthan with brilliant figures of four for 23, while Pankaj Singh ( 2/ 18) and Amit Singh ( 2/ 43) also scalped two wickets apiece.
Mayank Agarwal ( 34 off 21) gave a brisk start to RCBs run chase before Pankaj pegged back the visitors innings with a double blow in the fifth over.
To make matters worse for RCB, A B de Villiers also failed to make any impact as he played on a Trivedi delivery in the ninth over.
Virat Kohli tried to force a comeback with an 18- ball 22- run innings but it was not to be as Trivedi knocked him over with a slower delivery to pick up his second wicket of the day.
As the asking rate kept on mounting, pressure started to build on RCB batsmen and in search of quick runs, the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
