IPL6: Bangalore ease past Pune to win by 17 runs

AB de Villiers and Saurabh Tiwary hammered half centuries as Royal Bangalore Challengers eased past Pune Warriors by 17 runs at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune.

Chasing a imposing total, Pune lost wickets at regular intervals but opener Robin Uthappa waged a lone battle to score a gritty 75 off 45 deliveries consisting of five hits to fence and five over it.

However, he succumbed at a crucial time and Pune lost their way to finish at 170 for nine in 20 overs.

Angelo Mathews, who confirmed having stepped down as captain, sparkled briefly hammering 32 from 19 balls including three sixes.

For the winners, Vinay Kumar claimed three wickets and Murali Karthik took two.

This was Bangalore’s first win away from home and they now have seven victories from 11 matches and are placed second in the table with 14 points below Chennai Super Kings.

Opting to bat first, the most anticipated performer for Bangalore, Chris Gayle failed to fire with just 21 runs coming off his bat.

Tiwary took up the task to provide the foundation scoring a gritty 52 from 45 balls. His first half century for Bangalore was studded with two boundaries and as many sixes.

Skipper Virat Kohli chipped in with a crucial 25 but it was de Villiers, who smashed six boundaries and two sixes, and Moises Henriques (27 not out, 13b, 4x4, 1x6) who ensured Bangalore had a big total to defend.

The duo showed fine form to blast 68 run in the last five overs.

Villiers achieved his half century in just 23 balls hammering 26 runs off the last over from Ashok Dinda, who had earlier claimed two crucial wickets to slow down Bangalore’s run flow.

PUNE WARRIORS INDIA INNINGS

A Mendis lbw b Gayle 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Gayle has his fun out there. Picks a wicket of the final over of Bangalore. Pune are 165 for 9 in 19.2 overs.

B Kumar c Kohli b Singh 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Another wicket goes. This time RP Singh. It looks all over for Pune.

R Uthappa c Singh b Kartik 75 (45b 5x4 5x6)

Karthik gets another and this time the big one of Uthappa. Pune now in trouble. They are 159 for 7 in 17.5 overs

A Nayar c de Villiers b Kartik 1 (3b 0x4 0x6)

De Villiers pulls off a great catch in the deep and Nayar has to go. Karthik continues to bowl well.

Uthappa holds the key at this stage. He has been knocking it fine. Pune are 152 for 5 in 17 overs.

AD Mathews c Gayle b Vinay Kumar 32 (19b 0x4 3x6)

Vinay pegs back the initiative. Gayle takes a great catch as Mathews is out.

21 runs including three sixes of Murali's over. Pune are inching closer. They are 143 for 4 in 16 overs.

Great over for Pune again. Uthappa going strong. Pune are 122 for 4 in 15 overs.

Uthappa gets to his half century in style smacking a super six off RP Singh. Pune need more of this.

Karthik is expensive this time. Mathews gets a six and Pune now need 76 from 36 balls.

Vinay Kumar finishes his third over. Uthappa got a six there. Pune now need 90 off 42 balls.

Great over from Karthik. Three runs off that. Pune need 103 off 48 balls.

S Smith c Arun Karthik b Vinay Kumar 4 (4b 1x4 0x6)

Vinay Kumar on a roll. Gets his second wicket as Smith edges one to the keeper. Wonderful over. Pune need 106 from 54 balls.

Yuvraj Singh c de Villiers b Vinay Kumar 16 (11b 0x4 2x6)

That's a prized wicket for Vinay Kumar. Yuvraj gone. Pune are 77 for 3 in 10.1 overs.

Another good over for Pune. A six from Uthappa was the highlight. Pune need 111 from 60 balls.

Two sixes and a boundary. Great over for Pune. They are 68 for 2 in 9 overs and need 120 from 66 balls.

T Suman run out 11 (14b 1x4 0x6)

A mess up and Pune lose their second wicket. Pune are 46 for 2 in 7 overs

The required run rate steeping. Pune are 39 for 1 in 6 overs.

Two boundaries. Pune get 10 runs from that over. They are 35 for 1 in 5 overs.

Only five runs from that over. A drop catch included. Pune are 25 for 1 in 4 overs.

Interesting over from Henriques. Uthappa survives a run-out, Finch slams a six and then is bowled. Bangalore 20 for 1 in 3 overs.

RP Singh concedes 8 runs from the first over. Pune are 12 for no loss in 2 overs.

Fine over from Karthik. Pune is 4 for no loss in 1 over.

Murali Karthik to bowl for Bangalore. Uthappa and Finch open for Pune.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE INNINGS

What an over for Bangalore. De Villiers rips apart Dinda to get 26 runs in the last over and also reach his half century. 68 runs coming off that last five overs. So Bangalore are 187 for 3 in 20 overs.

Good over from Kumar at this stage except for that boundary. Bangalore are 161 for 3 in 19 overs.

Two successive sixes from Henriques and Bangalore have a strong total now with 156 for 3 in 18 overs. They still have 12 balls to play.

Sharma is unlucky here. Two fours coming of thick edges. Bangalore have nothing to complain. They reach 142 for 3 in 17 overs.

Two boundaries and Bangalore are 130 for 3 in 16 overs.

S Tiwary c Sharma b Dinda 52 (45b 2x4 2x6)

Another one for Dinda. Removes well settled batsmen Tiwary. So it's getting difficult for Bangalore.

Eight from that over. Bangalore are 119 for 2 in 15 overs. Villiers is just opening up and Bangalore will look for some big ones from him.

Tiwary reaches his half century. That's his first with Bangalore.

V Kohli b Dinda 25 (18b 3x4 0x6)

Dinda strikes. Removes Kohli, big wicket and Pune seems to be in control now. Bangalore are 99 for 2 in 13 overs.

Sharma bowls a good over. Fine recovery giving away only six runs. Bangalore are 96 for 1 in 12 overs.

Yuvraj Singh welcomed with two successive boundaries from Kohli. And another one and 15 runs coming from that over. Bangalore 90 for 1 in 11 overs.

Poor bowling there from Mathews. Two wides go to the boundaries. Bangalore are 75 for 1 in 10 overs.

Tiwary played some great shots. A six and then a boundary. Bangalore are 59 for 1 in 9 overs.

Runs coming in only singles now. Bangalore are 46 for 1 in 8 overs.

After the big wicket of Gayle, Bangalore will depend heavily on their skipper Virat Kohli. Bangalore are 40 for 1 in 7 overs.

C Gayle c Kumar b Suman 21 (21b 2x4 1x6)

A six from Gayle but he succumbs to Suman and Pune fans are cheering louder and louder. Bangalore are 36 for 1 in 6.3 overs.

Mathews also bowls a fine over. Seven runs coming off it. Bangalore are 30 for no loss in 6 overs.

Another good over from Mendis just three runs. Bangalore are 23 for no loss in 5 overs.

Gayle still not finding his shots. But still manages a boundary. Bangalore are 20 for no loss in 4 overs.

Suman bowls a good first over. Bangalore are 15 for no loss in 3 overs.

Spin continues. Suman is bowling.

Great over from Mendis. Just one off it. Bangalore are 9 for no loss in 2 overs.

Pune have a strategy here. Mendis introduced into the attack.

Good over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Only eight runs coming off that over thanks to Gayle's lone boundary. Bangalore are 8 for no loss in 1 over.

Gayle will be in focus and Pune surely will remember their previous meeting where the he had cracked an unbeaten 175.

PLAYING XI

PWI: R Uthappa, A Finch, T Suman, Y Singh, S Smith, A Mathews, A Nayar, B Kumar, R Sharma, A Dinda, A Mendis

RCB: Rahul, Gayle, Kohli, AB, Henriques, Tiwary, A Karthick, V Kumar, Kartik M, RP Singh, M Muralitharan.

Royal Challengers Bangalore win the toss and bat against Pune Warriors India in Match 46 of IPL6 at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune on Thursday.

PWI lie at the bottom of the table with just two wins from ten matches.

RCB are second in the table behind Chennai Super Kings but have yet to win a match away this season.
 

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