Kohli, AB power RCB to 191/5 against DD

Virat Kohli played a captain’s knock with a quickfire 79, while AB de Villers made a brisk 55 before Delhi Daredevils pulled things back a little towards the end to restrict Royal Challengers Bangalore to 191 for five in an Indian Premier League match, here on Sunday.

At the M Chinnaswmay Stadium where the average score is 200 plus, RCB at one stage looked on course to achieve the target when Kohli and De Villiers were going great guns before Daredevils made some sort of a comeback.

Kohli’s 79 came off just 48 balls with the help of seven boundaries and three sixes, while De Villiers took just 33 deliveries en route to his half-century during which he struck nine fours and one hit over the fence. Electing to bowl, captain Zaheer Khan (1/50) gave a dream start to Daredevils by removing dangerous Chris Gayle of the third ball of the innings for a duck. Zaheer lured Gayle with a perfect outswinger to induce an edge and JP Duminy took a brilliant diving catch at the first slip to send back the big-hitting left-hander. But then came in De Villiers and he struck Zaheer for two consecutive boundaries to make his intentions clear.

Thereafter, it was all RCB as captain Kohli and De Villiers went hammer and tongs to stitch 106 runs off just 65 balls to power the hosts forward.

It was De Villiers who started off the pounding but Kohli matched his partner stroke for stroke as the duo went about their business in quick fashion against the hapless RCB attack. 

De Villers made quickfire fifty before he was holed out by Mohammad Shami off Carlos Brathwaite (1/18) at long-on in the 12th over. New man in Shane  Watson (33 off 19) too looked in ominous form as he smashed Brathwaite for a six and two fours in three consecutive balls.