IPL9 RPS vs RCB: Kohli, de Villiers power Bangalore to win over Dhoni's Supergiants

Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a fine 13-run victory over Rising Pune Supergiants after Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers fired impressive half centuries.

Needing 186 to win, Ajinkya Rahane (60) and skipper MS Dhoni (41) shared a 91-run stand but came a tad slow that put the pressure.

Thisara Perera revived the innings when he blasted a brilliant 13-ball 34 but his wicket ended all hopes as Pune managed only 172 for eight in 20 overs.

Earlier, Kohli (80, 63b, 7x4, 2x6) and de Villiers (83, 46b, 6x4, 4x4) shared a fine 155-run record partnership to propel Bangalore to a superb 185 for 3 in 20 overs.

For Rising Pune Supergiants, Thisara Perera picked up three wickets in his four overs giving away 34 runs.

RISING PUNE SUPERGIANTS INNINGS

One more wicket falls after de Villiers takes a fantastic catch despite misjudging it. RPS 169-8 in 19.4 overs.

Murugan Ashwin c de Villiers b Richardson 0 (1b 0x4 0x6

One more wicket falls as Bhatia pulls one straight to Watson off Richardson. RPS 169-7 in 19.3 overs.

Rajat Bhatia c Watson b Richardson 21 (11b 1x4 1x6)

Ashwin can't get the distance as he offers a simple catch to Patel in the deep. RPS 165-6 in 18.5 overs.

Ravichandran Ashwin c Patel b Watson 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

The big man goes. Perera is out as Watson gets him caught at cover. It's now a difficult challenge for Pune. RPS 164-4 in 18.3 overs.

Thisara Perera c Mandeep Singh b Watson 34 (13b 3x4 3x6)

Two sixes and three boundaries give Pune a hope from nowhere as Perera reaches 34 off 12 balls. It's game on as Pune need 25 off 12. RPS 161-4 in 18 overs.

It's almost end for Pune as Dhoni departs. Hits it straight but de Villiers takes a fine catch in the deep to end the skipper's run. RPS 120-4 in 15.5 overs.

MS Dhoni c de Villiers b Patel 41 (38b 3x4 0x6)

With the pressure building on, Rahane goes for a big one, misses it and is stumped easily by Rahul. Pune need 77 from 32 balls. RPS 109-3 in 14.4 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane st Rahul b Shamsi 60

Ajinkya Rahane gets to his half century off 37 deliveries including seven boundaries. But with more than 12 runs needed a over, they need some big shots. RPS 84-2 in 11.4 overs.

Rahane reaches 37 while Dhoni is batting on 19 as the duo share a vital 47-run partnership. Pune needs 121 runs from 66 deliveries. RPS 65-2 in 9 overs.

Things going terribly wrong for Pune as they lose another wicket through a run out. Amazing work from Kohli as Smith falls short. RPS 18-2 in 2.3 overs.

Steven Smith run out 4 (3b 1x4 0x6) 

Big blow for Pune as Kevin Pietersen returns just playing a ball. It looks like he has pulled his calf muscle.

KP Pietersen retired hurt 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) 

Bangalore earn their first wicket as du Plessis offers a simple catch to Patel at mid-off. RPS 12-1 in 1.4 overs.

Faf du Plessis c Patel b Richardson 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis open for Pune while Stuart Binny bowls for Bangalore

RCB INNINGS

De Villiers goes immediately as Ankit latches on to a high catch this time. He had dropped Kohi earlier in the innings. RCB 182-3 in 19.4 overs

AB de Villiers c Ankit Sharma b Perera 83 (46b 6x4 4x6)

Virat Kohli finally departs after scoring a fine half century. His partnership of 155 with de Villiers has put Bangalore on the top. RCB 182-2 in 19.3 overs.

Virat Kohli c Rahane b Perera 80 (63b 7x4 2x6) 

The partnership has reached 140 off 91 deliveries as these two continue to fire for Bangalore. RCB 173-1 in 19 overs.

The 100-run partnership comes up in just 69 balls. RCB 128-1 in 15 overs.

Kohli gets to his half century from 47 balls consisting of three boundaries and a six. He has been in great form and an amazing consistency this season.

A boundary off Ashwin's last ball of his second over and de Villiers reaches a superb half century off 25 deliveries. His innings has four boundaries and three sixes. RCB 106-1 in 12 overs.

De Villiers gets two sixes off junior Ashwin's over as he reaches 47 off just 22 deliveries. Kohli 40 off 35. RCB 97-1, 11 overs.

The half century partnership between Kohli and de Villiers comes off 6.1 overs. This is the third partnership this season. RCB 79-1 in 10 overs.

Two exceptional batsmen Kohli and de VIlliers are building on a partnership which has already reached 22 off two overs. RCB 48-1 in 6 overs.

Rahul was looking out of sorts and finally succumbed playing a ugly hoick. A thick edge gives Sharma an easy catch third man. RCB 27-1 in 3.4 overs.

KL Rahul c Sharma b Perera 7 (10b 1x4 0x6)

Kohli looks so elegant as he clips a six and a boundary off Ishant bowling. RCB 22-0 in 3 overs.

Kohli and Rahul open for Bangalore as Ishant picks the ball.

Virat Kohli has lost the toss once again and Supergiants skipper Dhoni has no hesitation in putting RCB into bat.

RCB have made a couple of changes with Tabreiz Shamsi and Mandeep Singh coming in for Varun Aaron and Travis Head.

Rajat Bhatia replaces Irfan Pathan for Supergiants.

PLAYING XI:
Rising Pune Supergiants: Ajinkya Rahane, Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen, Steven Smith, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Thisara Perera, Rajat Bhatia, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ankit Sharma, Murugan Ashwin, Ishant Sharma

RCB Team: Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Shane Watson, Sarfaraz Khan, Stuart Binny, Harsha Patel, Kane Richardson, Tabraiz Shamsi, Iqbal Abdulla

Sparks are set to fly and decibel levels rise when Dhoni's Rising Pune Supergiants take on Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore in Match 16 if IPL7 at MCA International Stadium, Pune on Friday.
 
This will be the first home match for RPS, one of the two new teams to compete in IPL 2016.

However, both teams will be hungry to get back to winning ways after two successive defeats.

After impressive starts, both Pune and RCB have stuttered in their last two games.

With one win and two defeats, both the teams have identical two points each but the Pune outfit is a notch above RCB in the standings at fifth position by virtue of a better net run rate.

RPS began their IPL campaign with a win over the defending champions Mumbai Indians, but have since then dropped games against the Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab.

RCB beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening match before their campaign suffering losses to Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians.

Bangalore hold the edge having a mighty batting line-up despite the absence of Chris Gayle who has returned home for the birth of his child.

Kohli and AB de Villiers have been destructive at the top while Sarfaraz Khan has been a revelation.

RPS will bank on Faf du Plessis, Ajinkya Rahane or Kevin Pietersen to fire them at the top.

RCB have been victorious in all three matches they played at the MCA International Stadium in Pune.

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