Bangalore: Kings XI Punjab crushed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 32 runs for their seventh win that consolidated their position at the top of the IPL table here yesterday.
Starring in Kings XI’s comprehensive win was South African David Miller (66 off 29 balls) as the visitors piled up 198 for eight in 20 overs. Royal Challengers were then put to rout after seamer Sandeep Sharma removed Chris Gayle and skipper Virat Kohli off consecutive deliveries in the second over and the hosts were pegged to 166 for 9.
It was one of the worst performances by Royal Challengers who bowled and fielded badly, and topped it by even poor batting to suffer their fifth loss in eight outings. Facing a massive target, RCB’s chase was tripped at the very start with the dismissals of Gayle and Kohli. Though AB de Villiers played a battling innings of 53, wickets fell at regular intervals as Kings XI continued their relentless march to yet another victory.
Aiding Sandeep Sharma, who also dismissed Parthiv Patel (13), was rookie off-spinner Shivam Sharma who picked up two wickets, those of Yuvraj Singh (3) and Albie Morkel (16). Towards end, veteran Laxmipathi Balaji accounted for two more dismissals to complete RCB’s rout.
Kings XI made capital of a sloppy Royal Challengers performance for much of the 20 overs as Virender Sehwag (30) and Mandeep Singh (21) put on 60 runs for the first wicket at a good clip before both departed while attempting to step up the scoring rate. IANS
KINGS XI PUNJAB
V Sehwag c Kohli b Chahal 30
Mandeep Singh c Morkel b H V Patel 21
G J Maxwell c Starc b Chahal 25
D A Miller c Chahal b Aaron 66
G J Bailey c P A Patel b Morkel 1
W P Saha c de Villiers b H V Patel 17
M G Johnson (not out) 16
A R Patel b Starc 2
Shivam Sharma b Starc 4
L Balaji (not out) 1
Extras (LB-2, W-11, NB-2) 15
Total (for 8 wkts in 20 overs) 198
Did not bat: Sandeep Sharma.
Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-68, 3-93, 4-116, 5-170, 6-184, 7-189, 8-193.
Bowling: M A Starc 4-0-43-2 (1nb, 4w); J A Morkel 4-0-20-1; V R Aaron 4-0-35-1 (1w); H V Patel 3-0-56-2 (4w); Y S Chahal 4-0-23-2; Yuvraj Singh 1-0-19-0 (1w).
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE
C H Gayle c Saha b S Sharma 4
P A Patel c M Singh b S Sharma 13
V Kohli c Saha b S Sharma 0
S Rana b Patel 18
A B de Villiers c Patel b Balaji 53
Yuvraj Singh c Sehwag b Shivam Sharma 3
J A Morkel c Bailey b Shivam Sharma 16
M A Starc c Miller b Balaji 29
H V Patel c Saha b Johnson 6
V R Aaron (not out) 17
Y S Chahal (not out) 1
Extras (LB-1, W-4, NB-1) 6
Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-26, 4-39, 5-50, 6-76, 7-125, 8-133, 9-153.
Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-0-25-3; M G Johnson 4-0-25-1; L Balaji 3-0-43-2 (1nb, 1w); A R Patel 4-0-22-1; Shivam Sharma 4-0-26-2; G J Maxwell 1-0-24-0 (2w).
