Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) recorded their third win on trot as they defeated Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 17 runs in an IPL encounter here, Wednesday.
Set a target of mammoth 203 runs for victory, the Punjab outfit were restricted to 185/7 despite a good start by openers KL Rahul (42) and Chris Gayle (23). The KXIP top-order batsmen all got starts but failed to maintain the momentum losing wickets at regular intervals.
After an early dismissal of Gayle off the bowling of Umesh Yadav (3/36), Rahul along with Mayank Agarwal (35) steadied the ship with a 59-run partnership. But two quick wickets in the ninth and tenth overs derailed KXIP’s chase.
However, South African David Miller (24) and Gayle’s countrymate Nicolas Pooran (46) took over the proceedings as the duo put together 68 runs for the fourth wicket but once they were dismissed of the bowling of Nitin Saini (2/33), it was all over as KXIP.
Earlier, AB de Villiers’ (82, 44b, 3×4, 7×6) scintillating half century and a 121-run stand with Marcus Stoinis (46, 34b, 2×4, 3×6) propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to 202/4.
Both Stoinis and De Villiers were at their brutal best as the dup plundered 45 runs in the last two overs off Mohammad Shami (1/53) and Hardus Viljoen (1/51) to take the score past 200-run mark.
Put into bat, opener Parthiv (43) and Virat Kohli (13) gave a rollicking start getting 35 runs on board in 18 balls but RCB captain was dismissed by Shami after he was caught by Mandeep Singh at extra cover.
Parthiv then got into the act for RCB, hitting out of the park Shami for three boundaries and a six in sixth over, who conceded 18 runs in his third over.
The left-hander also was severe on Ankit Rajpoot (0/46), hitting him for four boundaries and a six. The wicket-keeper batsman did not last long as he was caught by Ravinchandran Ashwin off Murugan Ashwin (1/31), after he had smashed seven fours and two sixes.
Looking good at 71/2 in six overs, RCB lost two quick wickets of Moeen Ali (four) and Akashdeep Nath (three), leaving RCB at the crossroads way 81/4.
De Villiers brought up the fifty runs partnership for fifth wicket with Stionis with a mighty six over deep mid-wicket off Murugan.
Brief scores: Royals Challengers Bangalore 202/4 (AB de Villiers 82, Marcus Stoinis 46) beat Kings XI Punjab 185/7
(Nicolas Pooran 46, KL Rahul 42; Umesh Yadav 3/36, Nitin Saini 2/33) by 17 runs.
