Bangalore, May 14:
Wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist struck a masterly unbeaten 85 as Kings XI Punjab thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets and also left the twice finalists face an uphill task of making it to the play off.
RCB despite making a competitive 174 were left wanting due to its bowling that lacked sting in the Pepsi-IPL 6 tie played at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here today.
The Vijay Mallya’s men are placed fourth with 16 points in the nine-team table. They now have a slender chance of making it to the play-offs as they have to beat formidable Chennai in their last match and hope Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are also at 16 points and looking up in the tournament, lose at least one of its last two matches.
Kings XI too kept their slim hope alive.
Earlier RCB made 174 for 5 with Chris Gayle top scoring with 77, while Virat Kohli made a stylish 57. The duo added 136 in 86 balls to lift the innings after the team made a sedate start and Gayle surprisingly seen in a waiting mood to take the assault to the rival camp.
This certainly cost them the match as the total proved insufficient on a fine batting wicket.
Despite chasing a stiff 175-run target with an asking rate of 8.5, Punjab coasted to victory as vintage Gilchrist led his side from the front. He chose the occasion to not only close the doors on RCB, but also give a outside chance for KXIP to make it to the play-off stage.
The visitors made 176 for 3 with 11 balls to spare, now have 12 points from 14 matches and have two more to play.
Gilchrist, who was declared the man-of-the-match, and Azar Mahmood (61, 41b, 10×4, 1×6) shut the Vijay Mallya’s men out with a match winning 118-run partnership for the second wicket made off just 77 balls. Gilchrist who made a cautious start, starred in the Punjab’s win hitting 10 fours and three sixes.
Playing his first match of the season RCB spearhead Zaheer Khan showed only in patches. After bowling two wides in the opening over, the Mumbai pacer struck in his second over, the third of the KXIP innings when he had Shaun Marsh with a beauty. The well pitched ball swung in the air beating the left handed Australian and sent the off stump cart wheeling.
Thereafter Gilchrist and Azar Mahmood made no mistake as they methodically raised the match winning partnership for the second wicket to put the match out of the reach of RCB.
Seasoned Azar, who plays T20 tournaments across the world, always looked for gaps and did not hesitate to hoist Muralidharan between the fielders. (UNI)
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