Royal Challengers end IPL10 season with win
Captain Kohli scored his fourth half century of the 2017 Indian Premier League
Royal Challengers Bangalore rode Virat Kohli’s 45-ball-58 and an all-round show from Pawan Negi to beat Delhi Daredevils by 10 runs in a thrilling Indian Premier League encounter here on Sunday.
With 13 runs to win from the last over, Negi was once again the hero for RCB as he conceded just three runs and claimed two wickets. He was the most successful bowler for his side with Harshit Patel (3/43) and Travis Head (2/30) also contributed heavily to the victory.
Batting first, Virat Kohli (58 off 45 balls) and Chris Gayle (48 off 38 balls) produced solid batting performances to take RCB to 161/6 in 20 overs. It was the fourth half-century for the RCB skipper this season and his innings consisted of three fours and three sixes. RCB lost the wicket of Vishnu Vinod early, but the 66-run stand between Gayle and Kohli provided the perfect platform for the visitors.
It was a vintage Virat Kohli innings as he looked extremely comfortable against the DD bowlers and was able to bring up a well-deserved fifty in just 39 balls.
RCB did lose the plot towards the end of their innings but three consecutive boundaries by Pawan Negi in the final over took them past the 150-run mark.
Chasing a target of 162, Delhi Daredevils were off a horrible start in their run chase as the hosts lost opener Sanju Samson in the very first over.
Avesh Khan was able to surprise the DD batsman with a pacy delivery and Samson ended up giving an easy catch to Virat Kohli at mid-on on the second ball of their innings.
The duo of Shreyas Iyer and Karun Nair did not let the wicket affect them and they were able to add quick runs for their team. Nair looked in good touch as he slammed Yuzvendra Chahal for a boundary through square leg.
BRIEF SCORES RCB 161 for six in 20 overs
(V Kohli 58, C Gayle 48; P Cummins 2/21) bt DD 151 all out in 20 overs (Risabh Pant 45, Shreyas Iyer 32; Harshal Patel 3 for 43).