Gayle ton floors Delhi

New Delhi - Chris Gayle produced a blistering 128 not out as the Royal Challengers Bangalore beat the Delhi Daredevils by 21 runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium to remain in contention for the Indian Premier League playoffs on Thursday.

Gayle bludgeoned 13 sixes and seven fours off only 62 balls and partnered in an unbroken double century stand with Virat Kohli (73) as Bangalore amassed 215-1. Delhi scored 194-9 in reply with Ross Taylor producing a valiant 26-ball 55.

Gayle scored only one run off the first nine deliveries he faced, but launched a relentless attack that saw him strike three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Pawan Negi and also dispatch Irfan Pathan for three sixes in an over.

It was Gayle's third IPL century and the second highest IPL score after Brendon McCullum's 158 not out for the Kolkata Knight Riders against Bangalore in the first match of the inaugural edition in 2008.

Gayle and Kohli added 204 in what is the second highest partnership in five seasons of IPL and came exactly one year after Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh established the record of 206 for the Kings XI Punjab versus Bangalore last year.

Bangalore now have eight wins, six losses and a no-result from 15 games. Delhi, who have already qualified for the playoffs, boast 10 wins and five losses from 15 games.

Royal Challengers Bangalore 215-1 (Chris Gayle 128 not out, Virat Kohli 73 not out) def. Delhi Daredevils 194-9 (Ross Taylor 55, Venugopal Rao 36; Prasanth Parmeswaran 3-30, Zaheer Khan 3-38, Vinay Kumar 2-35).