Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli has added another feather in his cap by becoming the first batsman in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL) to reach 4000-run milestone. He also became the first batsman to score four centuries and go past the 800-run mark in a single IPL edition. Gayle had sounded out a warning after the previous match in Kolkata, asking his fans to be prepared to cheer and celebrate; the Jamaican lived up to his words, smashing 73, hitting four boundaries and eight sixes in his 32-ball knock.
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Having threatened all day, rain came down in a torrent in the evening to push the start to 9.45 p.m. and reduce the match to a 15-overs-a-side affair.
The KXIP batsmen managed 120 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 14 overs, before rain chose to play spoilsport once again.
As a result, RCB’s incredible resurgence continued as they jumped from the seventh place they were on the table a few days ago to second spot, leading a long list of sides on 14 points thanks to their superior run rate. His tally stands at 865 runs from 13 matches.
Though Vijay used as many as five bowlers to contain the openers, there was no respite for Kings till Gayle got caught by David Miller of Arshad Patel ball in 11 over when RCB score was147 on the board.
The India Test captain put together a 147-run opening stand with the burly Jamaican – Chris Gayle (73).
RCB’s only leggi Yuzvendra Chala was the most successful bowler taking four wickets in three overs for 25 runs, while Shane Watson and S. Arvind bagged two each in two overs each.
Virat Kohli’s batting statistics boggles the mind. There were only 20 deliveries left in the innings, and his fourth century of the season looked inevitable.
KL Rahul chipped in with a cameo, scoring 16 from six balls, as RCB finished their allotted fifteen overs at 211-3 – their third 200-plus score of the season.
Kings XI Punjab managed only 120 for nine in 14 overs and succumbed to a massive 82-run defeat as per the DLS method.
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Wickets kept tumbling for KKR and their new batsman Jason Holder could not up a better show replacing their middle order crisis man Andre Russell.
