IPL6: Bangalore win thriller

Hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore put up a solid performance to pull off a thrilling two-run win over Mumbai Indians in Game Two of IPL6 2013 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

After a brilliant batting display from Chris Gayle that gave Royal Challengers a healthy 156 runs, Mumbai Indians suddenly shot into contention after Dinesh Karthik produced an amazing knock scoring 60 from 37 balls.

But it was the final over bowled with full of maturity from Vinay Kumar that mattered the most in which he struck twice including the dismissal of the dangerous Karthik that changed the fortunes for Mumbai.

This was the first loss for Mumbai against Bangalore in this stadium.

Earlier, Gayle despite carrying an injury which he sustained during the match blazed away to an unbeaten 92 that gave the hosts a challenging total.

Vinay Kumar finished with excellent figures of 4-0-27-3.

Chasing a challenging target of  157, Mumbai got off to a fine start with Ponting (28) and Tendulkar (23) putting on 52 runs.

Mumbai stumbled in their run chase following their dismissal before Karthik's whirlwind innings.

Karthik smashed four sixes and three sixes hitting 60 off 37 balls before Vinay swung back the pendulum in Bangalore's favour.

MUMBAI INDIANS INNINGS

Pollard smashes a boundary. Mumbai need four from last ball.

Vinay was on a hat-trick, but Harbhajan settles for one. Pollard on strike. Can he do it for Mumbai?

Vinay takes another to bowl Rayudu. Mumbai need nine from three. Harbhajan on strike.

Karthik goes. Good catch taken from Agrawal. It's going down to the wire.

It's heading to a tight finish. Mumbai need 10 runs from six balls. Rayudu on strike. Vinay Kumar takes the ball.

Karthik is on a roll. Now Mumbai look to have the upper hand. Mumbai are 140 for three in 18 overs.

Three massive sixes from three balls followed by a boundary from Karthik change the calculations for Mumbai. He also gets his half century. A well timed knock! Bad over for Christian

No boundaries coming for Mumbai as they reach 106 for three in 16 overs. Pollard kicking his heels in the dug-out.

Mumbai struggling as the required run rate shoots over 12 per over. After 15 overs Mumbai were 96 for 3.

Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik have a huge task on hand. They need big shots but Bangalore are keeping it tight with some brilliant bowling. But Mumbai still have Pollard in the wings.

Rohit Sharma misses it completely and is bowled by Vinay Kumar for 11. It's getting difficult for Mumbai as they need 69 runs from 38 balls.

Karthik cuts Unadkat for another boundary as Mumbai attempt to get their run chase back on track.

Sharma has whipped Udadkat past backward point for his first boundary in the 13th over.

Karthik reverse sweeps Muralitharan for his first boundary.

It's becoming tough for Mumbai as they need 95 from 60 balls.

Pressure builds on Mumbai and Ponting succumbs as he's stumped. Good work from Arun Karthik.

Karthik controlling the proceedings well. Does not give room to batsmen. 

Murali bowls a tight over. Gives just four runs as Mumbai score 58 for one in nine overs.

A mix-up results in a run-out and Tendulkar (23) is gone. Good work from Unadkat. Mumbai 52 for 1 in 7.2 overs

Good partnership building up for Mumbai. Ponting and Tendulkar take Mumbai to 49 in 7 overs

Tendulkar brings in a much-needed boundary. Hits it back over Muralitharan's head. Follows it up with another as Mumbai reach 38 for no loss in 6 overs.

Vinay Kumar bowls an impressive first over, concedes just four runs from the over. Mumbai 27 for no loss in five overs.

Ponting goes on the aggressive. Great pull shot for a six off Christian. That takes Mumbai to 23 from four overs.

First boundary for Mumbai and Tendulkar. Poor bowling from Unadkat as Mumbai reach 11 for no loss in 3 overs.

Cautious start for Mumbai as they manage just four runs from the first two overs. Need 153 runs from 18 overs

Ricky Ponting opens for Mumbai Indians along side Sachin Tendulkar. Jaydev Unadkat bowls the first over for Bangalore. 

Mumbai chase 157 to win. Bumrah was the surprise package. "Tried to keep it to basics and it felt good. I tried to bowl at the stumps and it worked."

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE INNINGS

Bangalore finish on 156 for five. Excellent batting from Gayle who got two fours and a six in the final over off Munaf Patel to remain unbeaten on 92 from 58 deliveries with 11 boundaries and five sixes. 

Karthik takes charge. Hits a good boundary off Oram. But only eight runs as Bangalore are 140 for five in 19 overs. Last one to go!

Smacked! Big six from Gayle as 17 runs come from the over. Costly affair for Munaf and Mumbai

Gayle dealing in boundaries now. Slices the ball to the square boundary.

There was a chance but a tough one. Captain Ricky Ponting misses a catch of Arun Karthik.

Gayle is unstoppable. Hits a boundary off Munaf Patel as he continues to limp.

Nine runs coming off that over as Bangalore reach 115 for five in 17 overs

Eight runs of two balls thanks to four leg-byes.

Arun Karthik begins with a boundary after the strategic timeout. Smashes Oram to deep midwicket.

Gayle makes room and hits a flat six off Harbhajan Singh. Mumbai desperate to stop the Gaylestorm. Bangalore 106 for five in 16 overs

Four from Arun Karthik brings up Bangalore's 100

Smashes another boundary to take Bangalore to 93 for five in 14 overs. Gayle on 54.

Gayle is limping but takes a single to get to a superb half century.

Gayle punishes a bad delivery from Harbhajan to a boundary. reaches 49.

Bumrah strikes again. This time a beauty from him traps Karun Nair for a duck. Bangalore 80 for five in 13 overs.

Gaylestorm in Bangalore. Hammers a boundary to Bumrah in the very first ball of his second spell.

Harbhajan Singh gives MI the fourth wicket as Christian holes it to Johnson in the deep. Bangalore 75 for four.

Gayle smashes Pollard to a huge six and follows it up with a pull to the boundary. 15 runs coming from that over as Bangalore score 74 for three in 11 overs

Harbhajan crashes into Gayle attempting a catch coming off Christian's bat. Gayle looked to be in pain, gets treated and is ready to play.

Modi tweets on Gayle: As long as #Gayle is there, wickets falling don't matter! The beast can ruin everything for MI in a flash #IPL (@LalitKModi)

Gayle gets his second boundary follows it up with a straight six of Bumrah bowling. Bangalore are 56 for 3 in nine overs.

Gayle taking it easy. Not going for big shots instead scores a boundary with a cheeky tap down the leg as Bangalore reach 44 for 3 in eight overs.

Bumrah is enjoying it out there. Claims his second wicket to end Mayank Agrawal who just managed one.

The youngster has the last laugh, traps Kohli (24) in front. Big scalp for the debutant. Bangalore 28 for 2 in 5 overs.

Bumrah has got an interesting aciton but Kohli is dominating with another boundary to make it three in this over.

Kohli welcomes rookie bowler Jasprit Bumrah with two successive boundaries. Not a good start for the debutant.

Kohli hits a straight one over Munaf Patel's head for a lovely six. Good over for Bangalore who reach 16 for 1.

Skipper Kohli opens with a boundary. Whips it wide of square leg as Oram fails to stop it at the deep. Bangalore 9 for 1 in 3 overs

Mitchell is on fire, rattles the stumps with a beautiful inswinger to send Dilshan (0) packing.

Mumbai pacers doing well. Bangalore have just two runs from two overs.

Bangalore just get one run from the first over.

Mitchell gets lot of support from the wicket, super spell to consistently trouble both openers.

STAT ATTACK

An interesting fact Mumbai have never lost to RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Lalit Modi tweets supporting Bangalore. Tonight I have my RCB hat on.... Supporting my good friend @TheVijayMallya @sidmallya. (@LalitKModi)

Overseas players for RCB are Gayle, Dilshan, Muralitharan and Dan Christian. Mumbai have skipper Ponting, Oram, Pollard and Mitchell Johnson

Mumbai win toss to elect to field first. Skipper Ponting says wicket has a bit of grass.

Two big teams who have some of the powerful names but are yet to lift the coveted Indian Premier League title are easily the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Having put those close misses in the previous five editions behind, both teams will face off in their first match of the IPL 6 season at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Thursday.

Anil Kumble has ended his association with Bangalore and is the team mentor for Mumbai Indians. SO his presence at least should give Mumbai Indians some insight about their rivals.

But their immediate concern will be the absence of Sri Lanka's pace ace Lasith Malinga who has been ruled out with an injury.

MI skipper, Ricky Ponting confirmed on the eve of the clash that the Sri Lanka slinger will join the squad ahead of their second tie.

“It’s disappointing not to have him in the first game. It would’ve have been nice to have the leading T20 fast bowler in the world but that’s not the case. We wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully he’ll be okay for the next game,” said the former Australian captain.

Ponting, however, was confident of the other overseas options at his disposal to replace MI’s highest wicket-taker in the IPL.

“Among overseas players we’ve got guys like Jacob Oram, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell Johnson, who can all replace Malinga if required,” he said.

Bangalore will be a confident outfit led by their young captain Virat Kohli. They have a good combination especially with a string of seamers.
Though Zaheer Khan has been ruled out due to an injury it should not worry the hosts much tonight.

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