IPL-4 (08 May): RCB beat KTK by nine wickets

By Team Bellevision
Bellevision Media Network

Bangalore, 08 May 2011: Chris Gayle continued his incredible run at IPL and scored 44 runs off 16 balls as he and Dilshan provided a fiery start to RCB against KTK. Gayle hit three fours and five sixes as he and Dilshan piled up 67 runs in just 3.5 overs. Chasing a modest total of 125, RCB reached 128/1 in 13.1 overs.

 

Earlier Royal Challengers Bangalore restricted Kochi Tusker Kerala to a modest 125 for nine to take command in the Indian Premier League match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here today.

 

Expecting the wicket to assist spin, Kochi skipper Mahela Jayawardene opted to bat upon winning the toss but his batsmen committed hara kiri after Michael Klinger (24) and Brendon McCullum (22) had provided them a reasonably good start of 43 runs.

 

Having started on a positive note with 41 for no loss in five overs, the Tuskers suddenly plummeted to 73 for four in 10.1 overs to hand the advantage to the Bangalore outfit, who are seeking to score their fifth successive win.

 

 

McCullum, who threatened to cut lose, was the first to depart, chipping Daniel Vettori to substitute Arun Karthik, fielding in place of an injured Cheteswar Pujara.

 

Klinger joined McCullum back in the hut, playing all over a Chris Gayle delivery to have his stumps rattled.

 

Much was expected of Jayawardene, but the captain was snaffled behind the wicket by AB de Villiers off the canny Vettori.

 

Parthiv Patel made things worse by having himself run out by an acrobatic de Villiers.

 

Last match hero Brad Hodge and Ravindra Jadeja, however, managed to steady the rocking ship briefly with a 16-run partnership. But RCB, clad in pastel green to support environment issues, had the match under their command by the 15th over, leaving the Tuskers struggling for oxygen at 95 for five.

 

The Tuskers just could not get off the rack and eventually settled for a modest total in their allotted 20 overs.