Royal Challengers Bangalore v South Australia – Champions League T20 – Match Recap
In an astonishing encounter, Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the semi-finals at the expense of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Arun-Karthik-c1085, sending the Chinnaswamy Stadium into ecstasy.
With a place in the knock out stage at stake, both sides produced some of the best T20 cricket in the Champions League witnessed so far; however it was the men of the Indian Premier League riches which finally booked their route after a defiant knock by
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737 - a stupendous 70 in the most crucial phase of the game.
In a high-octane match, the Red Backs showed class and guile, putting on a mammoth 214 on the board, courtesy of opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harris-c61739 and Ferguson piling
on 114 for the second-wicket, after skipper Matthew Klinger went early.
The duo offered a barrage of fours and it was not until the 16th over when the Red Backs hit the first six of their innings with Ferguson climbing into http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sreenath-Aravind-c2559 and hitting the bowler 30-yard over the long-on boundary.
The partnership was finally broken by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Raju-Bhatkal-c2266, but even that did not stop the batting team's charge as Daniel Christian notched 27 from just nine balls, guiding his side well past 200.
With an uphill task for the Challengers, they started the run chase solidly, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 mustering 65 in the first six overs. Gayle, in his usual manner clobbered three sixes; however, his stay at the crease was cut short when
Klinger took a brilliant diving catch, at the expense of getting injured.
That brought man of moment, Kohli, onto the pitch, who along with Dilshan, took the attack to the South Australian bowlers. He pulled his second ball to the long-on boundary to show his intent. With the next couple of overs bowled shrewdly and Kohli failing
to connect cleanly, his frustration grew and with it, the asking rate.
However his determination to succeed overpowered him and after practicing a few shots while on the non-striker end, he came to life with a flurry of sixes. From overs 10 to 13, he hit five more sixes and four fours, turning the tie on its head, while leaving
their opponents in utter disbelief.
With everything falling apart for the Kangaroo side, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SW-Tait-c2616 was brought into the attack and quickly dismissed Kohli. Now the game was left for Dilshan, who up till now had provided excellent support. He clobbered Tait for a six but the pacer managed
to make a strong comeback dismissing, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SS-Tiwary-c2565.
14 was taken from the third last over of the game, and with 18 required from 12, Tait showed his class as he took three wickets which included the all important wicket of Dilshan (74).
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashok-Aravind-c46347 hit a crucial boundary off the third delivery and after all the hustle, the match came down to the last ball.
With hopes fading, up stepped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kommu-Karthik-c71642, who picked up a slower ball and slogged it to the mid-wicket region, ending an incredible game in the most thrilling manner.
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