IPL Highlights, Gujarat Lions Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
IPL highlights and ball-by-ball commentary from the 20th T20 match between Gujarat Lions (GL) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Saurashtra Cricket Association Ground in Rajkot on Tuesday.
The Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Suresh Raina's Gujarat Lions by 21 runs for their second win in IPL 2017. Being put into bat, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli gave RCB a blistering start, putting on 122 runs for the first wicket. Gayle reached a personal milestone, becoming the first man to score 10,000 runs in T20 cricket, but fell just 23 runs short of his sixth IPL ton. Kohli, too, looked in great touch and scored his 28th IPL half century but fell in search of quick runs. While Brendon McCullum (72) steadied the Gujarat innings after Dwayne Smith (1), Suresh Raina (23) and Aaron Finch (19) fell, young Ishan Kishan's quick 16 ball-39 gave RCB a bit of a scare, especially with Kohli dropping his catch at a crucial moment. However, things worked out just fine and Kohli and his merry men can finally smile! (SCORECARD)
Earlier, Gayle and Kohli were in a punishing mood, and took the Gujarat bowlers to task. Gayle made a slow start but soon got into his own and peppered the boundary consistently. Kohli, initially was the aggressor, but took a backseat as Gayle went on a rampage. Travis Head (30 not out) and Kedar Jadhav (38) carried on the good work to take RCB past the 200-run mark, the first time they have done so this season.Â
IPL Highlights: GL vs RCB
Bangalore finally end their losing streak and move two places ahead. Gujarat replace them at the bottom of the table and will look to turn it around soon. Tomorrow, we have the defending champions, Hyderabad hosting Delhi for the 21st match of the season. The action begins at 2000 local (1430 GMT). Till then, it's goodbye from us! Take Care and cheers!
Man of the Match, Chris Gayle jokes that the 'Universe Boss' is back. Admits it feels good to be back among the runs and thanks his teammates and supporters for their support. Adds that it is special to get to 10,000 T20 runs and is very happy that it came in a winning cause. Thanks his fans and family. Hopes that there are many more big knocks to come from him. Ends by thanking the Rajkot crowd.
Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli when asked about landing on his shoulder while attempting a catch, says there is a lot of strapping on that shoulder and thinks that he needs to stop thinking about it. Mentions that it holds him back but stopping runs is also important. Opines that when he got hurt during the India-Australia series people were saying that you saved just one run but he feels that it is the effort that is important. Says that he is happy about the win. Conveys that he likes to play hard and he will never change his attitude. Mentions that Chris Gayle batted beautifully coming in place of AB de Villiers. Feels that they were 30 runs above par. Admits that both the spinners were outstanding. Praises Pawan Negi for bowling very well. Adds that people were not believing in him but he came back strongly this season. Thinks that Yuzvendra Chahal has been bowling superbly and adds that he is not scared to be hit for biggies and that is something which is very positive about him. Further adds that it is upon Chris Gayle, some days he decides to boss around and admits that he is the best T20 batsman around. Concludes by saying that 10,000 T20 runs with that strike rate is unbelievable.
Gujarat skipper, Suresh Raina says that they batted well and thinks 200 was gettable but more than that it was difficult. Credits Brendon McCullum and Ishan Kishan for their performances. Informs that the bowling department is still a worry for them. Conveys that the bowlers have to vary their pace like they do in nets. On Jadeja, he says that he is a matured bowler and he will come back strongly. Ends by applauding Ishan Kishan's performance in today's match and says that he has done brilliantly in the domestic season as well.
The quickies were expensive but the spinners weaved their magic for Bangalore. Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the bowlers, scalping 3/31 in his 4 overs. He was well supported by Pawan Negi, who ended with bowling figures of 4-0-21-1! The visitors would be really pleased to see such a bowling performance and that too in the absence of Samuel Badree and Tymal Mills.
Brendon McCullum was fighting it out for the hosts, scoring a breezy 72 off 44 balls. However, the runs were not coming from the other end and that built pressure on him, which finally led to his dismissal. After he departed, Ishan Kishan tried to take his team across the finish line with a quickfire 39, but it wasn't enough.
Another match of the Indian T20 League which went down to the wire and Bangalore held their nerves to come out on top to register their second win of the season. The 122-run opening stand between Gayle and Kohli set the tone for the visitors as they registered a total of 213 in front of Gujarat. They started off brilliantly with the ball too, sending Smith and Raina back before the end of the Powerplay overs.
This is it! BANGALORE WIN BY 21 RUNS! A nasty way to end the match though. Milne bangs this short, Thampi tries to get out of the way but gets hit on the grille of the helmet. Milne goes towards Thampi to ask him whether he is fine. Thampi nods in approval.
Milne bowls this short, Tye pulls it away to long on for a single.
Basil Thampi is the new man in.