Ace AB outshines Stokes

A STORMING 55 from 22 balls by AB de Villiers powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in the IPL yesterday.

RCB, set 178 to win, needed 64 from the final 30 balls when De Villiers battered six sixes and one four, including 25 runs from the penultimate over.

He bashed a six off England’s pace ace Jofra Archer to seal victory with two balls to spare. Earlier De Villiers had caught Ben Stokes (left) for 15, while Australia’s Steve Smith scored 57 as Rajasthan made 177-6. After RCB captain Virat Kohli went for 43, Rajasthan looked in control, before De Villiers struck.