VICTORIOUS CHALLENGERS
Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman A. B. de Villiers plays a shot during the Indian Premier League match against Delhi Daredevils in Bengaluru on Saturday. Royal Challengers won by 20 runs. —
Royal Challengers Bangalore bucked the trend of being a slow starters, by getting off the blocks with a convincing 20- run win over Delhi Daredevils in their IPL- 5 opening fixture.
After RCB’S go- toman Chris Gayle was rendered unavailable owing to groin niggle and Virat Kohli firing blanks, it seemed the last year’s finalists would stay true to their reputation.
However, a fine, unbeaten 64 ( 42b, 6x4, 2x6) from man of the match AB de Villiers, laced with innovative strokes, guided them to 157/ 8. But it was spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, who fired the hosts back into the game.
After Daredevils had got off to a flyer — despite skipper Virender Sehwag’s first ball dismissal — Muralitharan made a memorable debut for RCB, scalping three quick wickets while applying the brakes on their run rate. His 325 meant that the visitors could only manage 137/ 7 in 20 overs.
Coming into bowl in the seventh over, Muralitharan hit the right notes straightaway, dismissing Naman Ojha, who along with Aaron Finch appeared to take the match away, with his third delivery.
He then trapped Finch leg before and sent back the clueless Glenn Maxwell to reduce the Daredevils to 76/ 4.