Royal Challengers v Pune Warriors – Indian Premier League 5 – Match recap – RCB clinch stunning 6-wicket victory
Making a thrilling comeback after having won only 1 of the last four matches they played, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, aided by the heroics of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 de Villiers, defeated the Pune Warriors by 6-wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore
on April 17.
The Pune http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JD-Ryder-c1679 (34), who managed to put a total of 63 runs on the
board in just 7 overs before their partnership was terminated by Ryder’s dismissal at the hands of Harshal Patel.
Skipper Ganguly was unable to put up much of a fight, and went for 6 in the 12th over, courtesy http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marlon-Nathaniel-Samuels-c74804 who followed, chipped in with a vital 34. His partnership with Uthappa was fleeting, as they only managed 9 runs together
before the latter was caught out at point by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DL-Vettori-c1384.
However, Samuels and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SPD-Smith-c2555 contributed a total of 47 runs combined, bringing their side up to a solid 164 by the 18th over. Both were run-out by beginning of the 19th over, but by then the Warriors appeared to be on solid ground,
and some quick final contributions by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mithun-Manhas-c76414 (6) got the visitors up to 182 by the end of 20 overs, at the expense of 6 wickets.
Economy was not among the strong points of the Challengers’ bowling attack – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 bled 24 in 2. Vinay Kumar remained the highest wicket-taker with 2 scalps, while Patel and Vettori managed to pick
up a wicket apiece.
The Challengers’ innings were opened by Dilshan and Chris Gayle. The left-hander’s imposing reputation seems to have preceded him during the current season of the IPL, which fans and experts alike harbouring high expectations, only to be let down by the
Jamaican’s scores of 2 and 8, with the highest being a 68 against the Chennai Super Kings on April 12. However, the much anticipated “Gayle-storm” finally arrived in Bangalore, as the all-rounder went on to smash a game-changing 81 off 48, including five consecutive
sixes off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-Sharma-c83352.
Dilshan (4) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mayank-Agarwal-c1937 (9) fell without much of a fight, followed by Virat Kolhi (16), leaving the RCB at a precarious 72 for 3 in the 12th over. With around 111 needed from 50, chances of the Challengers’ victory appeared slim, but Gayle’s
valiant half-century got his side to 127 by the 16th over, after which his wicket finally fell owing to a skillful yorker by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Nehra-c873.
The Challengers’ completed the thrilling chase with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887 (33 off 14) at the crease, whose unbeaten 59-run partnership got the team up to 186, with 0 balls remaining, including a last-ball 6 by Tiwary.
The Warriors bowlers were ineffective when it came to restricting run flow, with Sharma conceding a shocking 35 in just 2 overs, while Nehra gave away 54 in 4, though he did manage to pick up the prized wicket of Chris Gayle. Mathews, Samuels, and Ashok
Dinda also managed to pick up one wicket each.
Gayle was declared Player of the Match for his stunning 81, and the RCB found themselves one place above the bottom-of-the-table Deccan Chargers. Vettori’s men will be looking to continue in a similar vein as they take on the Kings XI http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833 on April 20
in Mohali.
Tags: