RCB look to maintain momentum against hapless Warriors
May 10th, 2012 - 8:24 pm ICT by IANS
Pune, May 10 (IANS) Royal Challengers, who got back their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign with a convincing win against Mumbai Indians, will be looking to strengthen their position when they take on Pune Warriors in their away game here Friday.
The last time the two teams met, Royal Challangers, chasing 183 runs won by six wickets with AB de Villiers staring with a with 14- ball 33 (2×4, 3×6).
De Villiers, the second highest run scorer for Bangalore with 292 runs from 12 games and Chris Gayle, the Orange Cap holder with 515 runs in 11 games, have the potential to rip apart Pune Warriors bowling attack.
Bangalore’s bowling struck the right note and will be a positive aspect to count on in the final stages of the tournament.
Both Zaheer Khan (nine wickets from 12 games) and Vinay Kumar (10 wickets from 11 games) bowled in tandem with the new ball to restrict Mumbai Indians to modest total in the last match. The experience of Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (10 wickets from six games) is proving to be a extra addition with the veteran holding on the run scoring during the middle overs with an economy of 6.41 runs per over.
On the other hand, Pune Warriors, whose chances of qualifying for the play-offs are all but over, now only have to play for pride. Pune Warriors started their campaign well with two consecutive wins against Mumbai and Kings XI Punjab later lost their way and never recovered. They have lost nine of 13 games under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly.
With the addition of Australian captain Michael Clarke (72 runs from four matches) and the return of Ashok Dinda (nine wickets from seven games) from injury have failed to rejuvenate the side.
Robin Uthappa (353 runs from 13 games) and Steven Smith (301 runs from 13 games) are in good form but Ganguly has been a disaster. Dropping New Zealand southpaw Jesse Ryder (233 runs from nine matches) hurt Pune the most with openers constantly failing to give the side a good start.
Pune who finished ninth in the 2011 IPL season will look to win the remaining matches and lift themselves in the point tally.
- Rayudu, Pollard fashion sensational win for Mumbai Indians (Lead) - May 15, 2012
- Gayle stars as Royal Challengers beat Pune Warriors in a thriller (Lead) - Apr 18, 2012
- Royal Challengers knoked out, Chennai in play-offs (Second Lead) - May 20, 2012
- Beleaguered RCB hopes to bounce back - Apr 17, 2012
- Pune look to bounce back against Deccan Chargers - Apr 30, 2012
- Chandila takes first hat-trick of IPL-V as Royals trounce Warrios (Lead) - May 13, 2012
- Rajasthan Royals need a win against Pune Warriors - May 12, 2012
- Must win game for Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals - May 09, 2012
- Bowlers standing tall in IPL - May 03, 2012
- Daredevils hope to extend their winning streak against Warriors - Apr 20, 2012
- Knight Riders edge past Warriors by 7 runs (Lead) - May 05, 2012
- Brave Warriors snatch victory in CLT20 opening thriller - Sep 24, 2011
- RCB outclass Warriors to go third in IPL standings (Lead) - May 12, 2012
- Kings XI wary of Gayle 'storm' in revenge game - May 02, 2012
- royal challengers keep playoffs hopes alive (Preview) - May 13, 2012
Tags: ashok, australian captain, captain michael, challangers, chris gayle, dinda, ganguly, ipl, last match, michael clarke, muttiah muralitharan, nine wickets, orange cap, play offs, seven games, six games, southpaw, steven smith, vinay, zaheer khan