Gayle makes the difference in RCB’ sixth consecutive win (Lead)
May 12th, 2011 - 1:30 am ICT by IANS
Jaipur, May 12 (IANS) Chris Gayle (70) played another electrifying knock and guided Royal Challengers Bangalore to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League here Wednesday.
The Challengers made short work of the Royal’s 146 for six, chasing it down with 18 balls to spare. Gayle was at his brutal best and paired up with Tillakaratne Dilshan (38) and then stand-in captain Virat Kohli (39) to take the Challengers to their sixth consecutive win in the tournament. Sreenath Aravind did his bit with the ball to pick up three Rajasthan wickets for 45 runs.
The opposition captain Shane Warne had a forgettable last match at home as he dropped the destructive Gayle in the fourth over. The Royal’s fortress was breached yet again with two losses in as many matches.
The Challengers, who seem to be on a roll, have now moved to the second spot in the points table and look set to finish within the top two qualifying spots. They now have 15 points from 11 games while the Royals are placed fifth with 11 points from 12 games.
The writing was on the wall when the destructive Gayle along with Dilshan collected 50 runs from the first five overs. Gayle continued his amazing run in the tournament and toyed with the Royal’s bowling attack. The maverick batsman joined the squad in the middle of the tournament but has now raced to become the second highest-run getter in the tournament. He has amassed 398 runs in six games and it is only a matter of time before he surpasses the injured Virender Sehwag (424 runs), who got the runs in eleven matches.
The West Indian hit four towering sixes in his 44-ball knock and stayed till the end to take the team home. The story, however, would have been a lot different had Warne caught Gayle in the fourth over, when he was on just 13.
The Royals, put into bat, were cruising at one stage with Rahul Dravid (37) and Shane Watson (34) setting a 73-run stand for the first wicket. But the momentum soon shifted in favour of the Challengers as Aravind sent the openers packing within a space of three deliveries.
Rahane (17), Johan Botha (19) and Ross Taylor (13) fell after getting their eye in. That put the brakes on the scoring rate and from there on, the Royals never looked like breaking the 150-run barrier.
- Keen tussle on cards as Chargers looks to spoil RCB's party (Preview) - May 19, 2012
- RCB's Gayle storm blows away Somerset in must-win tie - Oct 04, 2011
- RCB thump Pune Warriors for maiden win at home (Lead) - Apr 30, 2011
- RCB overcome blues to beat NSW, enter CLT20 final - Oct 08, 2011
- Royal Challengers beat Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets - May 12, 2011
- Royal Challengers thrash Rajasthan Royals by 46 runs (Lead) - Apr 24, 2012
- Gayle fury sweeps away Kolkata Knight Riders (Lead) - Apr 22, 2011
- Daredevils blown away by Gayle storm, hopes alive for Royal Challengers (Lead) - May 18, 2012
- We need to pick the best to partner Gayle, says Vettori - May 09, 2011
- RCB looks for Gayle's opening partner as Dilshan leaves - May 09, 2011
- Gayle powers RCB to victory over Kochi Tuskers (Roundup) - May 08, 2011
- IPL scoreboard: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - May 12, 2011
- Domestic players continue to shine in IPL - May 29, 2011
- Gayle, Dilshan power RCB to nine-wicket win over Tuskers (Lead) - May 08, 2011
- Gayle turns KKR's nightmare as RCB wins again (Lead) - May 14, 2011
Tags: balls, bowling, challengers, chris gayle, dilshan, fortress, getter, last match, matter of time, maverick, premier league, rahul dravid, royals, shane warne, shane watson, six games, sixes, virender sehwag, wicket victory, wickets