IPL6: Gayle steers Bangalore to victory over Rajasthan

Royal Challengers Bangalore surged to the top of the table in IPL6 by coasting to a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Match 27 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday. Bangalore are ahead of SunRisers Hyderabad at the top of the table on the nett run rate with both teams having 10 points each. It was a clinical performance from Bangalore as they comfortably chased down the relatively small target of 118 by making 123-3 in 17.5 overs. Gayle curtailed his attacking instincts by steering Bangalore home remaining unbeaten on 49 off 44 balls. It was uncharacteristic innings by the West Indian hitting just four boundaries before smashing a six off Tiwary for the winning hit to the delight of the crowd. He was content to play second fiddle even during the opening stand of 53 with Dilshan who cracked five boundaries in his 22-ball 25. Watson caused a slight wobble when he dismissed Dilshan and had AB de Villiers in successive overs as Bangalore slumped to 64 for 3 with Kohli being bowled off an inside edge by Faulkner. But Gayle shepherded Bangalore home with an unfinished stand of 59 for the third wicket with Saurabh Tiwary who was unbeaten on 25 ff 29 balls hitting two boundaries and a six. Earlier, Rajasthan Royals put into bat never got going after losing Watson in the third over being all out for 117 in 19.4 overs. Rahane (14) hit a couple of boundaries and a six while Binny smashed a 20-ball 33 with four boundaries and a six. Dravid tried to hold the innings together grafting 35 off 31 balls with five boundaries. But their innings never gather any momentum losing their last seven wickets for 20 runs in five overs. RP Singh (3-13) and Vinay Kumar (3-13) were the pick of the bowlers. Rampaul also claimed two for 19 and also held three catches. ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE INNINGS Bangalore raced to victory with more than two overs to spare as Tiwary hit a couple of boundaries off Trivedi while Gayle smashed a six for the winning hit in the 18th over. Bangalore are doing it clinically reaching 108-3 after 17 overs. Bangalore are 102-3 after 16 overs with Faulkner giving away just four runs. Gayle goes for maximum smashing Chandila over long as Bangalore reach 98-3 after 15 overs. Bangalore are cruising at 90-3 after 14 overs with Gayle content to play it safe. Off spinner Chandila also bowls a tight over conceding just three runs in the 13th over. Bangalore 85-3. Trivedi bowls another good over giving away just four runs. Bangalore 82-3 in 12 overs. Tait goes for 11 in the 11th over with Gayle despatching him to fine leg for a boundary. Bangalore 78-3. Trivedi bowls a good over giving away just three runs which included two wides but Bangalore are cruising at 67-3 at the halfway stage. Watson strikes against as Chandila at midoff takes a good low catch to dismiss AB de Villiers. Bangalore 64-3 after 9 overs. AB de Villiers c Chandila b Watson 7 (8b 1x4 0x6) AB de Villiers has hit his first boundary driving Watson to long off and is out next ball. Rajasthan have struck in quick succession with Faulkner bowling Kohli off an inside edge. Bangalore 57-2. V Kohli b Faulkner 1 (4b 0x4 0x6) Watson strikes with his fourth delivery as Dilshan nicks to be caught behind by Yagnik after a fluent knock. T Dilshan c Yagnik b Watson 25 (22b 5x4 0x6) Bangalore chasing a relatively small target of 118 have got off to a solid start reaching 48 for no loss after the Powerplay overs. Dilshan has made 25 off 21 balls while Gayle is on 16 off 15 balls. Tait goes for a 15 runs in his second over courtesy three boundaries, including off a wide with Gayle finishing off with a fine leg glance to the fence. Bangalore 46-0. Dilshan is on fire hooking Tait to the square leg boundary in the fifth over. Dilshan is on song picking up a couple of boundaries off Faulkner on either side of the wicket. Tait comes into the attack and Gayle punches him to long off for his first boundary. Dilshan hits the first boundary for Rajasthan flicking Sreesanth to backward leg followed by a another one through midwicket. Dilshan takes strike against spinner Chandila who opens the attack. RAJASTHAN ROYALS INNINGS Rajasthan Royals are all out for 117 in 19.4 overs after being put into bat. S Trivedi c Singh b Rampaul 3 (6b 0x4 0x6) RP claims his third sending Tait's off stump cartwheeling. Rajasthan 112-9. S Tait b Singh 1 (3b 0x4 0x6) Vinay Kumar finishes with excellent figures of 4-0-18-3. Vinay Kumar claims his third wicket trapping Sreesanth leg before. Rajasthan 111-8. S Sreesanth lbw b Vinay Kumar 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) Rampaul takes his third catch as Yagnik departs. Rajasthan 110-7. D Yagnik c Rampaul b Singh 5 (4b 1x4 0x6) Rajasthan have lost their sixth wicket with Faulkner holing out to Rampaul. Rajasthan 108-6. J Faulkner c Rampaul b Singh 3 (7b 0x4 0x6) Bangalore peg back Rajasthan with a good over from Vinay Kumar who takes the wicket of Hodge. Rajasthan 108-5 after 16 overs. Hodge hit a boundary off Vinay Kumar but is caught behind nex