Chennai, Apr 18 (UNI) Blazing half centuries by Glenn Maxwell and
AB de Villiers powered Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to 204
for four in 20 overs in their IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders
(KKR) here today.
After the early loss of two wickets, Maxwell, who came in at No.4
pummelled the KKR bowlers, before de Villiers' power hitting in
the end propelled RCB to a good total.
Maxwell smashed a 49-ball 78 with nine fours and three sixers
and De Villiers remained unbeaten on 76 of just 34 balls, with
nine fours and three sixers.
Batting first, RCB got off to a bad start as the lost two wickets
in the second over, with spinner Varun Chakravarthy getting rid
of skipper Virat Kohli (5) and Rajat Patidar (1).
However, Maxwell and Devdutt Padikkal steadied the innings with
a 86-run stand for the third wicket in 9.1 overs.
While Padikkal (25, 28 balls 2x4) rightly played second fiddle,
picking ones and twos, Maxwell exploded at the other end as
he belted the bowlers to all parts of the ground and reached
his 50 in just 28 balls (6x4, 2x6).
After Padikkal holed out to deep midwicket of medium pacer Prasidh
Krishna, AB de Villiers joined Maxwell and duo added 53 in a mere
5.5 overs to further consolidate the innings.
After Maxwell top edged a pull of Cummins with three overs remaining,
De Villiers toyed with the KKR attack, played an array of shots with more
improvisation, and reached his half century in just 27 balls (6x4, 2x6).
Kyle Jamieson hit a four and six before De Villiers finished the innings
in style as the last three overs yielded 56 runs.
In fact, the last five overs yielded 70 runs, with de Villiers alone scoring
55 of it, as RCB finished with a big total.
Like last match, Pacer Andre Russell was brought in the 18th over and
he conceded 38 runs in two overs, with de Villiers plundering 34 of it.
Following is the scoreboard :
Virat Kohli c Tripathi b Varun Chakravarthy 5
Devdutt Padikkal c Tripathi b Prasidh Krishna 25
Rajat Patidar b Varun Chakravarthy 1
Glenn Maxwell c Harbhajan b Cummins 78 9x4, 3x6)
A B de Villiers (not out) 76
Kyle Jamieson (not out) 11
Extras : (nb-3, w-5) 8
Total : 204 for four in 20 overs.
Fall of wickets : 1-6, 2-9, 3-95, 4-148.
Bowling :
Harbhajan Singh 4-0-38-0
Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-39-2
Shakib Al Hasan 2-0-24-0
Pat Cummins 4-0-34-1
Prasidh Krishna 4-0-31-1
Andre Russell 2-0-38-0
UNI GV 1725