Thaindian News

Bangalore, Oct 18 (IANS) No Indian team was left in contention for the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 after Banglaore Royal Challengers thrashed Delhi Daredevils by eight wickets in the Super Eight match at M. Chinnaswamy stadium here Saturday.
Chasing a victory target of 139 runs, Royal Challengers reached the target in just 15.1 overs. Ross Taylor (65) and Rahul Dravid (32 not out) shared 93 runs for the second wicket.

Royal Challengers are already out of the semi-final race, but their victory means that Daredvils too could not reach the last four now. Australian team Victoria Bushrangers and South African side Cape Cobras are through to the last four stage after Challengers’ victory.

Asked to bat first, Daredevils could score only 138 for six in 20 overs. Virender Sehwag (47) was the top scorer in Daredevils innings. The rest of the batting line up failed to make much of an impact.

Royal Challengers got the wickets at regular intervals. Skipper Anil Kumble, who turned 39th Saturday, was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets giving away 20 runs.

Both sides had been sloppy with their fielding, letting go a number of catching opportunities.

But it was Daredevils who would have rued the missed chances most, specially of Ross Taylor, who was put down in consecutive overs.

Taylor, however, made the most of the life and entertained the crowd dealing in fours and sixes.

His stunning 38-ball 65 included six fours and four sixes. Australian Glenn McGrath came in for some special treatment from Taylor.

Leg spinner Amit Mishra, too, proved expensive, and went for 59 runs in four overs. Bangalore lost Manish Pandey to a muscle pull in the second over. Robin Uthappa miscued a pull shot and Challengers were two wickets down with just 15 runs on the board.

Taylor took his chances while Dravid batted with flair, executing some fine shots to see the team through. Virat Kohli added 24 runs after Taylor’s dismissal.