Royal Challengers won defeating Pune Warriors
BANGALORE: Gayle and De Villiers help Royal Challengers to pull an improbable win. The game was another cliffhanger with fortunes changing every now and then.
Gayle was going at around a run a ball then he calmly decided to shift gears and hit five consecutive sixes against Rahul Sharma, the bowler having with one of the best economy-rates in the IPL. In the last over they needed 21 runs, which was achieved by De Villiars and Tiwary to hand a shocking defeat to Pune Varriors.
Gayle made 81 runs in 48 balls with 8 sixes while De Villiers hit 33 in just 14 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours. Dinda pick one wicket for only 27 runs.
Pune Warriors set a challenging target with some classy batting of Uthappa who hit 69 runs in 45 balls. He was very well supported by Ryder and Samuels both making 34 runs. Vinay kumar pick two wickets. Brief Score: Royal Challengers Bangalore 186 for 4 (Gayle 81, Tiwary 36*, de Villiers 33*) and Royal Challengers Bangalore 186 for 4 (Gayle 81, Tiwary 36*, de Villiers 33*)
Vettori: “We needed this one and it’s a great momentum shift to do it under these circumstances. We’ve tried to maintain our fielding and it held us in good stead tonight. It’s great for the team and good for the balance of the side is AB. He is arguably the best batsman in the world”
Ganguly: “I thought 183 was a good total, but the last over was a bit expensive. The scoop over short fine from AB was a brilliant shot. We’re playing well, these things happen. Hope we’ll bounce back.”
Gayle is the Man of the Match for his 81.
Gayle: “Nehra and Dinda got the ball in the right areas initially and we lost Dilshan. I tried to hang in there a bit. I looked to accelerate and that big over came and it put us back in the game. There was a lot of pressure. I’m actually sad that one of the sixes hit someone in the stands and broke their nose. This win, hopefully, will give us the push in this tournament.”
