Match Review of Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Kolkata Knight Riders

Indian Premier League Match review
Date : 14th May 2011 Match No. : 58
Teams : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : M. Chinnaswamy, Bangalore
Umpires : Aleem Dar & R. B. Tiffin Third Umpire: S.S. Hazare
Toss : Royal Challengers won the toss and elected to field

Playing XI

Kolkatta Knight Riders Gautam Gambhir (c) Eoin Morgan Jacque Kallis Manoj Tiwari Yusuf Pathan Mark Boucher I. Abdullah Bret Lee Rajat Bhatia L. Balaji Jaidev Unadkat

Royal Challengers Bangalore Chris Gayle T. Dilshan Virat Kohli © AB de Villiars Mohd. Kaif K Karthik S.S. Tiwary Abrar Kazi Zaheer Khan S Arvind C Langeveldt

The Royal Challengers Bangalore set to square off against the Kolkata Knight Riders on their home ground. It was expected to be a high voltage match as both the teams are among the top 4 in the standings. The Bangalore stadium once again turned red supporting the home side and chanting their favorite slogan RCB. Last time when the two teams played each other, the challengers were placed at the bottom of the table. But things have changes for the challengers thereon since the inclusion of Jamaican Chris Gyale. As the race for the play offs is intensifying, this match would play a crucial role.

The Bangalore pitch was expected to offer help to the fast bowlers but at the same time was a good one for stroke play as well. Virat Kohli the new skipper for Challengers after Vettori's exit looked quite enthusiastic about his new role. Kohli won the toss and decided to put opposition to bat.

Kallis and Morgan opened the batting for Knight Riders, both looked comfortable facing Zaheer Khan and new bowler Langeveldt. Kallis was hitting the ball well and scored 2 boundaries in the very first over of Zaheer Khan. But Morgan got deceived by Zaheer Khan and got out by a fine catch on short mid wicket on the score of just 2 runs in 5 balls. Skipper Gautam Gambhir came to the crease but before the two could settle and put a partnership, Kallis gout out by Langeveldt after scoring 17 runs in 14 balls. The Riders were now 2 wickets down for 21 runs.

The skipper was joined by Manoj Tiwari who has been a consistent performer in all the matches. The Royal bowlers kept attacking the batsmen and did not let them score any easy runs. The run rate was dipping every over but the real setback came for the Riders when Gambhir got out on a fine catch by AB de Villiers. With 3 wickets down, the Challengers were in a commanding position.

Tiwari and Pathan were the two men at the crease. They were finding it tough to score as the Challengers were brilliant in the field. Soon the batsmen started feeling suffocated and Pathan decided to take the aerial root. He hit couple of sixes that took the run rate a bit high but was not good enough. They both put a fighting 53 runs partnership for the 4th wicket. In an effort to improvise it further Pathan got out after scoring a quick 36 of 24 deliveries hitting two 4s and three 6s. When rain interrupted the match, the Riders were 4 wickets down for 83 in the 13th over.

Showers kept coming and going but the crowd remained optimistic as they wanted to witness Gyale's thunders. There was a 128 minutes halt before the match resumed. The Duckworth Lewis method set Challengers a revised target of 102 runs in 13 overs.

In Dilshan's absence, Gyale opened the innings with a new partner Pommersbach. Bret Lee opened the bowling for Riders. Gyale once again was determined to entertain the crowd and hit Lee for four boundaries in the 1st over itself. The action didn't stop here when Unadkat, the other Riders bowler got the taste of Gyale's batting and was hit for two sixes. The rain stopped but Gyale's fours and sixes didn't. As always he gave his team a flying start taking the pressure off the rest of the batting line up. While trying to hit, he got a bottom edge which resulted in a sky high catch very well judged by Kallis off the bowling of Lee. Though he could not finish off the things but scored 38 runs of just 12 balls, giving his team a perfect start.

The Challengers were 44 in just 2.4 overs. Kohli was the next man in to join hands with Pommersbach. Both the batsmen were as ease as Gayle had made things very comfortable. They put up a small partnership but soon both were quickly removed by Kallis taking the score to 3 down for 72 runs.

With Gyale back in the pavilion, the Riders did display some great bowling performances but Gyale had already done the damage. Though wickets kept falling at regular intervals but the Challengers managed to reach the required total of 102 runs with 3 balls to spare.

With this win the Challengers move to the 1st position on the standings with 17 points. However the visitors remain at the 4th place.

Result: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 4 wickets (D/L Method)

The Awards

Man of the match
Chris Gayle for scoring 38 off 12 balls

Maximum Sixes
Yusuf Pathan for hitting three 6's

Kingfisher Fair Play Award
Chennai Super Kings top the chart

Orange Cap (The leading run scorer)
Chris Gayle-Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Purple Cap (The leading wicket taker)
Lasith Mallinga- Mumbai Indians

Question of the day
Do you see Chris Gayle as Player of IPL season 4?



Last Updated on 16 May 2011