Kohli takes ‘best seat’ as Padikkal makes merry
OPENER’S CENTURY HELPS ROYAL CHALLENGERS CRUSH RAJASTHAN
Propelled by a maiden century from Devdutt Paddikkal beside Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore blew away Rajasthan Royals by 10 wickets in the Indian Premier League yesterday.
Paddikkal, the 20-year-old left-hander, scored 101 not out and Kohli, his captain, 72 not out for Bangalore to reach 181 without loss in the 17th over in reply to Rajasthan’s 177-9.
“I had the best seat in the house,” Kohli said. Bangalore remained the only team unbeaten after four rounds, while Rajasthan were last in the eightteam league. Rajasthan’s target was imposing but Paddikkal and Kohli cruised, sparing nobody.
“The conversation was very clear, we both realised when we were going good,” Paddikkal said. “There were times when he was going better, times when I was going better. We just wanted to rotate the strike.”
Paddikkal brought up his 50 in 27 deliveries with a boundary through extra cover in the eighth. In the ninth, he swatted leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia for consecutive sixes.
The century partnership came up in the 10th when Paddikkal swivelled on his back foot and pulled Mustafizur Rahman over deep square leg. While Paddikkal stalled in the 80s, Kohli rushed from the 20s to his 50, getting there after slapping Morris over mid off. Kohli took 34 balls.
Kohli’s milestone
Paddikkal achieved the second hundred of this IPL by hitting Mustafizur over deep square leg. The left-hander’s 102 came from 52 balls, and included 11 boundaries and six sixes.
“Flawless innings,” Kohli said. His 72 off 47 had six boundaries and three sixes. He passed 6,000 runs in the IPL.
Put in to bat, Rajasthan found themselves in deep trouble at 43 for four. Then Shivam Dube began the recovery with a 46 off 32 balls until he was out to a good diving catch by Glenn Maxwell. Riyan Pirag added 25 off 16, and Tewatia 40 off 23. Tewatia was medium-pacer Mohammad Siraj’s third wicket..