IPL
Gayle leads Bangalore charge
2011-05-08 16:23
Chris Gayle (Gallo Images)
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Bangalore - Chris Gayle hammered a 16-ball 44 to set up Royal Challengers Bangalore's nine-wicket victory over Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the IPL on Sunday.
The left-handed Gayle lashed five sixes and three fours as Royal Challengers easily chased down the target of 126 with 6.5 overs to spare. Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored with 52 not out.
Royal Challengers made 128-1 off 13.1 overs after first restricting Kochi Tuskers to 125-9 to move up to third place in the 10-team league following their sixth victory in 10 matches.
Man of the match Gayle, who scored two centuries in the first four matches, hit 37 in one over off left-arm pacer Prasanth Parameswaran that included a free hit with four sixes and three boundaries.
"Good game. Enjoyed it," Gayle said. "Late night for me. I couldn't sleep well. Went to bed at 6 a.m."
Gayle put on 67 for the opening wicket with Dilshan before the West Indian was bowled by pacer Vinay Kumar. Dilshan had set the pace before Gayle's burst when he took 20 off one over from spinner Ramesh Powar. The team's first 50 came off just 15 balls.
Dilshan, who hit eight fours and a six in his 31-ball knock, put on 61 with Virat Kohli (27) for the unbroken second wicket for their second win over Tuskers this season.
A controlled bowling display by Royal Challengers pegged back Tuskers after the visitors had elected to bat. Medium-pacer Sreenath Aravind and New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori took two wickets each.
"(It was a) complete performance over all," Royal Challengers skipper Vettori said.
Kings XI Punjab play Pune Warriors later on Sunday.
Mumbai Indians pacer Lasith Malinga was fined five per cent of his match fee for bowling two beamers during Saturday's match against Delhi Daredevils.
Brief scores:Royal Challengers Bangalore 128-1 in 13.1 overs (Chris Gayle 44, Tillakaratne Dilshan 52 not out) def. Kochi Tuskers Kerala 125-9 in 20 overs (Sreenath Aravind 2-20, Daniel Vettori 2-24).