Bangalore end Delhi's challenge; both out of CLT20

Bangalore:

Bangalore Royal Challengers and Delhi Daredevils crashed out of the Champions League Twenty20 after the formers' eight-wicket victory over their Indian Premier League opponents here on Saturday.

In a dramatic League B Super Eight match at the packed Chainnaswamy Stadium, Ross Taylor smashed a blistering 65 off just 38 balls to help Bangalore surpass the target of 139 with nearly five overs to spare.

Earlier, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble led from the front by grabbing three wickets to restrict Delhi Daredevils to a modest 138 for six.

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Bangalore were only playing for pride as they were already out of contention for a semifinal berth after Cape Cobra's victory over Victoria Bushrangers in another League B match earlier in the day.

The eventful day saw the first match being delayed by one hour and 40 minutes and reduced it to 17-over-a-side affair due to bomb scare.

The result of the second match between the two Indian Premier League sides which though played with full quota of 20 overs meant no Indian side will play in the semifinals in the USD six-million tournament.

South African side Cape Cobras and Australia's Victoria Bushrangers made it to the semi-finals from League B as both have collected four points each.

Delhi's last match at home against Cape Cobras on Monday thus will be rendered inconsequential.

Bangalore made a subdued start not wanting to take risk against Delhi opening bowlers Ashish Nehra and Dirk Nannes, who bowled consistently above 150 km per hour.

They also suffered a jolt in the second over as Manish Pandey retired hurt after a desperate lunge forward to reach the crease.

But, New Zealander Ross Taylor was in a punishing mood. He showed his intentions clear by hitting three fours off Glenn McGrath in the fifth over.

The actual run riot, however, began from towards the midway mark as he hit boundaries almost at will before he was out off Nannes for 65 in the 14th over. He hit six fours and four sixes in his 38-ball stay at the crease.

Taylor was though given life twice when he was on 18 and 32 -- the first by Nehra and then by Rajat Bhatia off his own bowling and Delhi had to pay a price for their mistakes.

The Kiwi hit two consecutive sixes off Amit Mishra in the 12th over and raised his 50 from just 29 balls from one such hit over the rope.

Bangalore were 68 for one after the 10th over but the run riot by Taylor and latter by Dravid, who made unbeaten 32 off 26 balls (3X4; 1X6) and Virat Hohli, whose unbeaten 24 from 10 balls included five fours, ensured that Bangalore reach 139 in 15.1 overs.

Dravid ended the match in style hitting Nehra for a six. For Delhi, Nannes took two wickets for 19 from his four overs.

Earlier, Kumble, who celebrated his 39th birthday today, was instrumental in putting brakes on Delhi Daredevils who were on to a rollicking start after he put the opposition in after winning the toss.

For Delhi, Virender Sehwag top-scored with an explosive innings of 47 which he made from 29 balls with the help of four fours and a six. Dilshan contributed 20.

Delhi openers Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were intent to make Kumble pay for his decision by hitting a torrent of boundaries in the first five overs.

The Delhi duo struck seven fours in the first five overs to take the score to 47 for no loss with Sehwag, who hit three consecutive boundaries off Praveen Kumar, contributing 31.

Sehwag struck two more fours off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fourth over but lost his opening partner Gambhir two overs later, edging a Dale Steyn delivery to Mark Boucher for 11.

Delhi lost way after the midway mark and once Sehwag was out in the 10th over, they failed to put up any worthwhile partnership. Sehwag was going strong when he was out, holing out to

Manish Pandey off Roelof van der Merwe at 77 for two. Two wickets fell quickly, both claimed by birthday boy Kumble, which reduced Delhi to 91 for four in the 13th over.

Kumble introduced himself in 11th over and in his third ball dismissed Dinesh Karthik (2). Two overs later, he caught Dilshan off his own bowling to reduce Delhi to 91 for 4. Owais Shah (17) and Manoj Tiwary (11) could not contribute much.