Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Mitchell Starc (centre) celebrates with teammates after taking a Rajasthan Royals wicket in Ahmedabad. (BCCI)
Agenices/Ahmedabad
AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli featured in a superb unbeaten 98-run partnership to power the Royal Challengers Bangalore to a comprehensive nine-wicket win, their second, against the table-topping Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League clash at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad yesterday.
Rajasthan stuttered to 130 for nine, a below-par batting total for the Sardar Patel Stadium where the average score is 166. Pace bowler Mitchell Starc captured three for 22, while the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked up two for 25.
Kohli led the clinical pursuit of the target by finishing unbeaten on 62 off 46 balls with a four and three sixes as Bangalore reached 134 for one with 23 balls to spare. Kohli and De Villiers, generally considered to be two of the most creative batting minds in international cricket, were ruthless in dismantling the Rajasthan-attack with excellent running and their wide range of shots.
De Villiers, promoted to the number-three spot, caressed a majestic 47 off 34 balls with six boundaries. The Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Chris Gayle started circumspectly and was tested by Chris Morris in his first over.
He was destructive in Morris’ second over, blasting 15 runs to power the Royal Challengers Bangalore to 28 without loss after three overs. Shane Watson removed the belligerent Gayle with a slow bouncer which had him caught behind for 20.
De Villiers and Kohli joined forces on 36 for one and put the attack to the sword. Their audacious shot-making and excellent ability to pick up length early to deposit the short deliveries were features of their partnership.
The two gifted right-handers put pressure on the legspinner Pravin Tambe, slamming 21 runs off his first two overs. Watson took one for 23 in three overs. James Faulkner failed to make an impression and conceded 17 runs in two overs as De Villiers went after the allrounder.
The Rajasthan Royals lost their way after a promising start which saw them reach 68 for two after nine overs. Ajinkya Rahane was trapped lbw by Harshal Patel as Rajasthan slipped to 36 for one after five overs. Watson attempted to bolster Rajasthan in the final over of the power play against Chahal and holed out to Starc at deep midwicket for 26. Karun Nair and Steve Smith seemed to mend the damage but Nair was beaten by an excellent flat throw by Patel from deep midwicket and run out for 16.
In the middle-overs, the RCB-spinners took centre stage and strangled the middle-order while taking cheap wickets.
Starc rocked Rajasthan in his return spell with a double-strike as he had Smith caught by the wicketkeeper for 31 and Binny caught at deep extra cover by David Wiese for 20. He bowled Dhawal Kulkarni with a yorker for 1 and Rajasthan limped to 130 for nine.
