Mumbai: AB de Villiers smashed a brilliant century and skipper Virat Kohli played the perfect foil as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) outscored Mumbai Indians by 39 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here on Sunday.
The win propelled RCB two places up the league ladder from sixth to fourth with 13 points in their kitty from 11 games.
In contrast, Sunrisers Hyderabad (12 from 11) dropped to the fifth place, whereas Mumbai (12 from 12) slipped to the sixth spot.
Riding on de Villiers’ (133, 59b, 19×4, 4×6) and skipper Kohli’s (82, 50b, 6×4, 4×6) unbeaten 215-run partnership for the second wicket, RCB piled up a massive 235/1.
In reply, Mumbai Indians could go only as far as 196/7 at the Wankhede stadium.
For RCB, Harshal Patel (2/34) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/51) were the pick of the bowlers.
For Mumbai, Lendl Simmons (68 not out off 53 balls) and Kieron Pollard (49 off 24 balls) showed some intent to chase down the rival total, unleashing some big shots but the duo’s efforts were not enough.
The home side got off to a worst possible start losing opener Parthiv Patel (19) in the fourth over.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (15) after striking one boundary and a six failed to read a slower ball by Harshal Patel, thus finishing in the grip of Mandeep Singh at long on.
But wickets did not bother opener Simmons and Pollard as the West Indies pair went all out at the bowlers.
After smashing six fours and two sixes, Pollard got a top edge from his bat which was gleefully accepted by Mitchell Starc.
Hardik Pandya (8), Ambati Rayudu (14), Harbhajan Singh (3) Jagadeesha Suchith (4) all fell soon after.
Earlier opting to bat, RCB got 14 runs off the first two overs, but what followed in the third over was some real drama.
Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma dropped Chris Gayle on the fourth ball off Mitchell McClenaghan and Harbhajan Singh spilled Virat Kohli’s catch in first slip off the next ball. Gayle and Kohli were 12 and 8, respectively, when the catches were dropped.
But Gayle (13 off 12) didn’t hurt them much as Lasith Malinga in the very next over got rid of the Jamaican left-hander.
Gayle looked to slap the slower off-cutter well outside off and got another thick edge to fine leg. At that point, RCB were 20/1 in 3.1 overs.
The swashbuckling de Villers did not take much time to settle down as he unleashed his skillful shots soon after along with Kohli.
De Villiers hit the ball mercilessly, bringing up his 50 in just 29 deliveries. He went on hitting, sweeping, slogging the ball to bring up his hundred in only 47 balls.
He was well supported at the other end by Kohli who played with ease scoring his half-century in 39 balls.
This was the sixth consecutive IPL season where Kohli has scored 300-plus runs. He also completed 3,000 runs in the IPL.
(IANS)
