Royal Challengers Bangalore thrash Kings XI Punjab by six wicktes

Victory continued to elude the troubled Kings XI Punjab and the Royal Challengers Bangalore recorded a comfortable six-wicket win over the Mohali side here on Friday night. It is the seventh loss in eight games for the Punjab side, who are now virtually out of contention for a semifinal berth.

Electing to bat, the Kumar Sangakkara-led Kings XI Punjab posted a formidable 181 for five, with beleaguered Yuvraj Singh hitting a stroke-filled 36 off 20 balls but their bowlers and fielders failed to rise to the occasion. They dropped more than four catches as Royal Challengers cruised to their target in the 20th over with six wickets in hand.

Kevin Pietersen slammed an unbeaten unbeaten 66 and anchored the team’s chase to perfection after their dependable Jacques Kallis failed to get going. Pietersen’s effort was well complimented by Virat Kohli (42) and Robin Uthappa (22) who came up with timely knocks.

Earlier, Sangakkara top-scored with a 27-ball 45 as Kings XI Punjab posted a challenging 181 for 5. Electing to bat, Sangakkara shared 63-run partnership for the second wicket with opener Manvinder Bisla (28).

Ravi Bopara (42 not out), who has been Kings XI Punjab’s most prolific run-getter in IPL III, and Yuvraj Singh (36) chipped in as the home side added 62 runs in the last five overs.

For the Bangalore side, R Vinay Kumar, Dale Steyn, Anil Kumble and Jacques Kallis took a wicket each. Kings XI, who had won just once prior to encounter, in fact, began on a disastrous note with Marsh out in the second over for two.

Bisla and Sangakkara were unperturbed by the early loss and hit some boundaries off Steyn and Vinay before the former fell in ninth over for a 26-ball 28 which contained four fours.

Bisla fell while attempting a risky scoop shot off Kumble and the straighter delivery uprooted his exposed stumps. Kings XI reached 74 for two after the halfway mark but suffered a jolt as Sangakkara was out in the 12th over when he holed out to Kallis at deep square-leg. The bowler on that occasion was Steyn. Sangakkara hit eight fours in his 27-ball 45.

Yuvraj, who was under severe criticism for having scored just 101 runs in seven games prior to this one, shared a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket with Ravi Bopara. The left-handed Yuvraj looked ominous throughout his stint and hit a six each off Kumble and Kallis. He, however, fell for a 20-ball 36 in the 18th over. Irfan Pathan then added 16 runs from just five balls to take the score past 180.