IPL 2016, Highlights: RCB vs GL - De Villiers, Abdulla Take Royal Challengers Bangalore To Final
An unbeaten 91-run partnership between AB de Villiers and Iqbal Abdulla helped Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Gujarat Lions by four wickets and book their spot in the finals of the 2016 Indian Premier League. Catch all the highlights of this match here.
After being put in to bat, Gujarat Lions got off to a worst possible start as they lost three wickets inside the first four overs courtesy some brilliant bowling from Iqbal Abdulla. Dwayne Smith and Dinesh Karthik revived the innings with an 85-run stand but then Jordan got rid off Karthik, who scored 26 off just 30 balls. Smith continued to attack as he played his trademark shots and guided his team to a fighting total. Shane Watson was the pick of the bowlers for RCB as he finished with the figures of 4/29. In reply, Royal Challengers Bangalore lost five wickets inside the powerplay but AB de Villiers then anchored the chase and with good support from Iqbal Abdulla helped his team reach the finals of 2016 Indian Premier League. Get all the highlights of this match here. (SCORECARD | STREAMING | NEWS | PLAY FANTASY LEAGUE)
23:50 hrs IST: That's it. Thank you for joining us tonight. See you all tomorrow for the all important game between KKR and SRH. Until then, it's goodbye. Cheers!ÂÂ
AB de Villiers (Man of the Match): "I was very nervous. Just wanted to focus on the basics. Knew if I was till the end, we would be close. There was one six which just cleared the fence, got lucky there. In the start, I played just normal shots until the Smith over. Have to mention about the crowd, I think it's the loudest going around."
Virat Kohli (RCB skipper): "Unbelievable. I can't believe that I'm standing here as the winning captain. I think this should settle the debate about who is the best in the world. Come the big game, and he steps up. I just bow down to him. Credit to Abdulla as well for hanging out there with AB. It did play a bit slow in the first half of the first innings, but then it played out nicely."
Suresh Raina (GL skipper): "AB de Villiers batted really well. We bowled well upfront. We bowled well in the middle It is a small ground and we did not get wickets in the in-between overs. Smithy and Dwivedi batted well. 160 was defendable."
Iqbal Abdulla: "AB de Villiers gave me lot of confidence. When you bat with a world class man, you gain belief."
© BCCI
23:22 hrs IST: And that's it. RCB beat GL by four wickets to enter the finals of IPL 2016. This is going to be their third IPL final.ÂÂ
23:19 hrs IST: Three boundaries in a row for Abdulla. It's all over for GL now. RCB now require 3 off 12 balls.ÂÂ
23:15 hrs IST: 12 runs of Praveen's over. RCB now require 21 off 18 balls.ÂÂ
23:12 hrs IST: SIX! Too short from Praveen and de Villiers clobbers over deep mid-wicket boundary.ÂÂ
23:09 hrs IST: A SIX each for de Villiers and Abdulla off Jakati's over. RCB now require 33 off 24 balls.ÂÂ
23:05 hrs IST: RCB need 49 off 30 balls.ÂÂ
23:03 hrs IST: SIX and a FOUR for de Villiers and that brings up his fifty. His 21st in IPL.ÂÂ
AB gets to 51 off 33b with a scorching straight four off Dwayne Smith! #GLvRCB #PlayBold
- Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) May 24, 2016
23:00 hrs IST: Good over from Bravo. Just four runs off it. RCB now require 63 off 36 balls.ÂÂ
22:57 hrs IST: Bravo comes in for his second over.ÂÂ
22:55 hrs IST: Brilliant over from Jadeja. Just three off it. RCB now require 67 off 42 balls. It's time for second strategic time-out.ÂÂ
22:50 hrs IST: FOUR! Half-volley from Bravo and de Villiers slaps it past covers for his third boundary. RCB now require 70 off 48 balls.ÂÂ
22:46 hrs IST: Kohli was extremely angry with the umpire after a poor decision cost his teammate Binny his wicket.ÂÂ
22:46 hrs IST: Single of the last ball for Abdulla. RCB now require 78 off 54 balls.ÂÂ
22:45 hrs IST: SIX! Fuller delivery from Jakati and de Villiers smashes it straight down the ground.ÂÂ
22:40 hrs IST: OUT! Binny lbw Jadeja 20(13).ÂÂ
22:36 hrs IST: Two SIXES and a FOUR for Binny. Just the kind of over RCB needed. They are 65/5 after 9 overs. It's time for strategic time-out.ÂÂ
22:34 hrs IST: Jakati now.ÂÂ
22:33 hrs IST: Amazing spell from Kulkarni. He finishes with figures of 4-1-14-4. RCB are 47/5 after 8 overs.ÂÂ
© BCCI
22:29 hrs IST: Kulkarni comes in for his last over. Can he get a five-fer?
22:27 hrs IST: Consecutive boundaries for de Villiers. 10 runs off Jadeja's second. RCB are 41/5 after 7 overs.ÂÂ
22:24 hrs IST: OUT! S Baby c Jakati b Kulkarni 0(3). RCB are 31/5 after 6 overs.ÂÂ
22:20 hrs IST: WICKET! What's happening to RCB! Watson c Smith b Jadeja 1(6). RCB are 28/4 after 5 overs.ÂÂ
Half the side back in the dugout. Who's EXPOSED now? ?? #GameMaariChhe #GLvRCB https://t.co/TZcbWeM43S
- The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) May 24, 2016
22:16 hrs IST: Excellent over from Kulkarni. RCB are 25/3 after 4 overs.ÂÂ
22:15 hrs IST: OUT! 100th T20 wicket for Kulkarni. Rahul gone for a duck.ÂÂ
KL Rahul comes and KL Rahul goes. @dhawal_kulkarni is bowling the spell of his life. RCB are 3 down. ROARRR! #GameMaariChhe #GLvRCB
- The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) May 24, 2016
22:11 hrs IST: WICKET! RCB in big trouble. Gayle b Kulkarni 9(12).ÂÂ
22:09 hrs IST: Single off the last ball for de Villiers. RCB are 25/1 after 3 overs.ÂÂ
22:07 hrs IST: SIX! Length delivery from Praveen and de Villiers launches it high over long-off for a maximum.ÂÂ
22:06 hrs IST: Six runs a wicket off Kulkarni's over. RCB are 17/1 after 2 overs.ÂÂ
22:01 hrs IST: OUT! Big wicket for GL. Kohli b Kulkarni 0(2).ÂÂ
22:01 hrs IST: Kulkarni into the attack.ÂÂ
22:00 hrs IST: Dot ball to finish off. RCB are 11/0 after first over.ÂÂ
21:59 hrs IST: FIVE-WIDES! Poor bowling from Praveen.ÂÂ
21:56 hrs IST: FOUR! First boundary for Gayle.ÂÂ
21:55 hrs IST: Gayle and Kohli to open for RCB. Praveen to bowl the first over for Gujarat.ÂÂ
21:40 hrs IST: And that's the end of the first innings. GL finish on 158 in their 20 overs. We'll be back in a few minutes time.ÂÂ
21:35 hrs IST: Consecutive boundaries for Kulkarni. GL are 154/8 after 19 overs.ÂÂ
21:30 hrs IST: Another WICKET! Bravo b Watson 8(6).ÂÂ
. @ShaneRWatson33 finishes with 4/29, his best in #IPL2016 to take the Purple Cap from Yuzi! #GLvRCB #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/WAGQkoiY5b
- Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) May 24, 2016
21:29 hrs IST: WICKET! Magnificent diving catch from Kohli at long-on. Dwivedi departs. GL are 145/7 after 18.3 overs.ÂÂ
21:26 hrs IST: SIX! Length ball from Watson, Dwivedi comes down the track and smacks it over long-off.ÂÂ
© BCCI
21:25 hrs IST: Watson to bowl the penultimate over.ÂÂ
21:24 hrs IST: Costly over from Jordan. 12 runs off it. GL are 133/6 after 18 overs.ÂÂ
21:19 hrs IST: GL are 121/6 after 17 overs.ÂÂ
21:16 hrs IST: OUT! The Big Fish is gone. Smith c Kohli b Chahal 73(41).ÂÂ
21:14 hrs IST: SIX! Tossed up delivery from Chahal and Smith smashes it over deep mid-wicket.ÂÂ
21:13 hrs IST: Bravo gets off the mark with a single. Tidy over from Watson. Four runs and a wicket. GL are 108/5 after 16 overs
21:11 hrs IST: WICKET! Jadeja c Gayle b Watson 3(7).ÂÂ
21:08 hrs IST: 10 runs off Aravind's third. GL are 104/4 after 15 overs. Can they get to 160?ÂÂ
21:05 hrs IST: SIX! Juicy full-toss from Aravind and Smith whacks it over deep square leg. That brings up the 100 for GL.ÂÂ
21:01 hrs IST: GL are 94/4 after 14 overs. It's time for second strategic time-out.ÂÂ
20:59 hrs IST: OUT! Much needed breakthrough for RCB. Karthik b Jordan 26(30).ÂÂ
20:56 hrs IST: SIX and a FOUR for Smith, and that's fifty for him. His 15th in IPL. GL are 89/3 after 13 overs.ÂÂ
What an innings this has been from 'The Doctor'. Under pressure he has scored 56 off just 32 balls. #GameMaariChhe #GLvRCB
- The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) May 24, 2016
20:53 hrs IST: FOUR! Karthik shuffles and sweeps it handsomely over square leg.ÂÂ
20:52 hrs IST: SIX! Too short from Chahal and Smith whacks it over mid-wicket for this third maximum. GL are 72/3 after 12 overs.ÂÂ
20:49 hrs IST: Six runs off Abdulla's third. GL are 64/3 after 11 overs.ÂÂ
20:46 hrs IST: Expensive over from Chahal. 16 runs off it. GL are 58/3 after 10 overs.ÂÂ
20:43 hrs IST: SIX! Fullish delivery from Chahal and Smith thumps it over wide long-on boundary for a maximum.ÂÂ
20:40 hrs IST: GL are 42/3 after 9 overs. It's time for strategic time-out.ÂÂ
20:36 hrs IST: Decent over from Chahal. Five runs off it. GL are 38/3 after 7 overs.ÂÂ
20:33 hrs IST: Leggie Chahal now.ÂÂ
20:32 hrs IST: Single of the last ball for Karthik. GL are 33/3 after 7 overs.ÂÂ
20:31 hrs IST: SIX! Shortish delivery from Jordan, Smith gets into position early and pulls it hard over deep backward square leg boundary.ÂÂ
SIX. That was dispatched with disdain. Pulled fiercely for a MAXIMUM.#GameMaariChhe #GLvRCB pic.twitter.com/UNYa43tWYN
- The Gujarat Lions (@TheGujaratLions) May 24, 2016
20:28 hrs IST: Just three runs off Watson's second. GL are 23/3 after 6 overs.ÂÂ
20:25 hrs IST: Watson to continue.ÂÂ
20:25 hrs IST: Aaaarrrrr Ceeeee Beeeee, you beauty!ÂÂ
Three quick wickets and the Chinnaswamy erupts into applause! The atmosphere here is electric! #GLvRCB #PlayBoldhttps://t.co/PBPi1IEN8Q
- Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) May 24, 2016
20:23 hrs IST: FOUR! Width on offer from Abdulla and Smith cuts it past backward point for his second boundary. GL are 20/3 after 4 overs.ÂÂ
20:22 hrs IST: FOUR! Touch start from Abdulla, Smith leans back and hits it well to deep square leg boundary.ÂÂ
20:20 hrs IST: GL are 10/3 in 4 overs.ÂÂ
20:19 hrs IST: Another BLOW! GL in all sorts of trouble now. Raina c Aravind b Watson 1(9).ÂÂ
20:16 hrs IST: Watson comes in as the first change.ÂÂ
20:14 hrs IST: Another brilliant over from Aravind. Just two off it. GL are 9/2 after 3 overs.ÂÂ
© BCCI
20:10 hrs IST: In walks Karthik at number 4. GL are 7/2 after 2 overs.ÂÂ
20:08 hrs IST: WICKET! RCB are on fire. Finch c Gayle b Abdulla 4(6).ÂÂ
20:06 hrs IST: OUT! McCullum c de Villiers b Abdulla 1(4).ÂÂ
20:05 hrs IST: Abdulla into the attack.ÂÂ
20:04 hrs IST: Single of the last ball for McCullum. Tidy start from Aravind. GL are 2/0 after first over.ÂÂ
20:02 hrs IST: Leg-bye, and it's the first runs of the night for GL.ÂÂ
20:01 hrs IST: First ball. Back of a length delivery from Aravind. Finch tries to pull but misses.ÂÂ
19:59 hrs IST: It's time for live action. Finch and McCullum make their way out in the middle. Aravind to start the proceedings for RCB.ÂÂ
19:57 hrs IST: The team that has finished second in the points table has gone on to win the IPL in each of the last five seasons. So you know who finished second this season!ÂÂ
19:55 hrs IST: BREAKING - Sunrisers Hyderabad's Ashish Nehra to undergo knee surgery. He'll be out of action for 3-6 months.ÂÂ
19:54 hrs IST: RCB are acting too bold too early!ÂÂ
Tonight #GL will be EXPOSED#GLvRCB #PlayBold
- Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) May 24, 2016
19:42 hrs IST: The kind of form RCB batters are in (or Virat Kohli specifically), GL will have to score in excess of 210 to have them in a spot of bother.ÂÂ
19:33 hrs IST: Here are the playing XI of both teams:ÂÂ
RCB: Virat Kohli (c), Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, KL Rahul (wk), Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Chris Jordan, Iqbal Abdulla, Sreenath Aravind, Yuzvendra ChahalÂÂ
GL: Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Eklavya Dwivedi, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shadab Jakati
19:32 hrs IST: Both teams are unchanged.ÂÂ
19:30 hrs IST: RCB skipper Virat Kohli wins the toss and elects to bowl first.ÂÂ
19:27 hrs IST: GL might not tinker with their winning combination while RCB are most likely to go with Varun Aaron in place of Iqbal Abdulla.ÂÂ
19:26 hrs IST: Virat Kohli has scored 209 runs vs GL in two games this season.ÂÂ
19:25 hrs IST: Toss in five minutes!ÂÂ
19:14 hrs IST: He has been a magnificent performer for RCB this season!ÂÂ
We hope he holds the purple cap till the end of #IPL9! How Yuzi dismembered DD: https://t.co/rsCCLDJHA6 #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/FVWeJhqNWt
- Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) May 24, 2016
19:11 hrs IST: Another STAT - RCB have hit 122 sixes this season, while GL have hit only 52.ÂÂ
19:08 hrs IST: STAT ATTACK - RCB skipper Virat Kohli needs 81 more runs to become the first batsmen to cross the mark of 1000 in a single IPL season.ÂÂ
19:04 hrs IST: The winner of this match will straightaway reach the finals. On the other hand, the team that loses this match will get one more opportunity to go into the finals. They'll face the winner of the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday at the Feroz Shah Kotla, and the winner of that match will be the other finalist.ÂÂ
19:02 hrs IST: A warm welcome to our live coverage of the first qualifier of the Indian Premier League season 9. Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Gujarat Lions at M Chinnaswamy Stadium tonight.ÂÂ
© BCCI
Virat Kohli has almost single-handedly fashioned RCB's stunning turnaround in IPL 2016. No one gave RCB a chance after the star-studded side lost five of their first seven matches. But then Kohli, the man he is, refused to give up.
He broke records and took RCB along. Royal Challengers Bangalore won six of their last seven games and their entry into the playoffs have been nothing short of rampaging.
Gujarat Lions will not have happy memories at Chinnaswamy. They were smashed by a record 144 runs by RCB in a return league match. GL were led by Brendon McCullum when Suresh Raina was on paternity leave.
Man-for-man, RCB and GL are quite well matched. RCB's Kohli, Chris Gayle, Ab de Villiers, Shane Watson and Lokesh Rahul have their match in Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Aaron Finch, Dwayne Bravo and Raina. Probably, GL have the better all-rounders.
The RCB vs GL game promises big runs. Two Gujarat bowlers - Dhawal Kulkarni and Dwayne Smith - are three wickets away from a 100 T20 wickets each. But their main focus will be Kohli's prized wicket. That could make all the difference.
The winners of this match goes to the final on May 29. The losers get another chance. They play the winners of the eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders. Follow live cricket score of RCB vs GL here.