Indore: India captain Virat Kohli (48 n o, 28b, 6×4, 2×6) and out-of-favour Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel (40 n o, 22b, 7×4) helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) register an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in their IPL-XI encounter here, Monday.
Chasing a paltry target of 89 runs, the RCB openers eased past the target in 8.1 overs to script their fifth win in 12 matches this season. However, the Bangalore outfit are firm on seventh position in the eight-team standings with 10 points, the same as sixth-placed Mumbai Indians, who are ahead of RCB due to a better net run-rate.
Earlier put into bat, KXIP wilted under pressure as a spirited RCB bundled them out for meagre 88 in their must-win game. The Punjab franchise never got going as they lost wickets like pack of cards from the onset to be bowled out in 15.1 overs. Backed by some good fielding, Umesh Yadav (3/23) came up with an impressive bowling effort up front to destabilise the KXIP innings.
Besides, the Indian pacer, Yuzvendra Chahal (1/6), Colin de Grandhomme (1/8), Moeen Ali (1/13) and Mohammed Siraj (1/17) picked up a wicket each. Besides Aaron Finch (26), KL Rahul (21) and Chris Gayle (18), none of the KXIP batsmen touched the double figures.
RCB bowlers were very well complemented by some good outfield catching and three runs outs. KXIP witnessed a terrible start to their innings after being sent into bat as they lost four wickets with the scoreboard reading just 50 in 6.5 overs.
Rahul gave the hosts a brisk start in the company of Gayle before Yadav struck twin blows in the fifth over, dismissing both the openers. After then, wickets kept on tumbling for KXIP and the Punjab outfit never really recovered and were eventually bundled out for the second lowest total of this year’s IPL.
Brief scores
KXIP 88 (Aaron Finch 26; Umesh Yadav 3/23) lost to RCB (Virat Kohli 48 n o, Parthiv Patel 40 n o) by 10 wickets.
