Thaindian News

Bangalore, May 8 (IANS) Chris Gayle blazed 44 off 16 balls in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) thumping nine-wicket victory over Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here Sunday.

RCB bowled well to restrict Kochi Tuskers to 125 for nine in 20 overs. Skipper Daniel Vettori and S. Aravind took two wickets each.

Gayle, who is hot on form with two blistering centuries this season, entertained the crowd with five sixes and three fours. He and Tillakaratne Dilshan (52 not out off 31 balls), massacred 67 runs off just 3.5 overs. Dilshan and Virat Kohli (27) then completed the chase in 13.1 overs.

Gayle began with a six off RP Singh over long off in the first over. Dilshan then hit off spinner Romesh Powar for three fours and a six.

Gayle, however, went a step ahead and ripped apart newcomer Prasanth Parameswaran. The explosive Gayle demolished 37 runs off the left-hander’s over, hitting four sixes, including one off a free-hit, and three fours. RCB were 66/0 in three overs and it was all but over for Kochi Tuskers.

After electing to bat Kochi Tuskers openers Brendon McCullum and Michael Klinger made a brisk start with a flurry of boundaries.

The openers were quick to post 40 runs in the first five overs before a brilliant catch by RCB substitute Arun Karthik of skipper Vettori brought the end of McCullum who made 22 runs with three boundaries.

Michael Klinger and Parthiv Patel could add only 21 runs. Gayle scalped Klinger for 24.

Tuskers failed to forge a decent partnerhsip with RCB keeping it tight with some good bowling and fielding. The Tuskers struggled to find the boundaries.

Patel and Ravindra Jadeja tried to accelerate. The middle order however collapsed thanks to some brilliant bowling and fielding by RCB.