Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) proved just a few inches better than the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the match played on IS Bindra International Stadium, Punjab on Monday. The blistering innings from Murali Vijay (89 off 57) helped the KXIP to get closer to the target, but unfortunately they could not get the last run and faced a close defeat
In Chris Jordan’s last over KXIP needed 17 runs to win the match. Marcus Stoinis played the first three deliveries brilliantly and smashed 11 runs from it. It was like the KXIP game at last with the team needing only 6 off the last 3 balls. But some poor shot selection by the batmen just could not hold enough and KXIP lost the game. Although Murali Vijay, who played a thunderous innings of 89 could not last till the end, his innings took the KXIP closer to the target and kept the team in game all the times.
Marcus Stoinis (34 off 22) helped KXIP to reach the target after Vijay’s dismissal but he too failed to pull a win for the team and could only score 174 for 4.
In RCB bowling, Shane Watson gave 22-runs in his quota of 4 overs and took 2 wickets. Helping him Yuzvendra Chahal took a wicket as well.
RCB would be feeling lucky as they managed to reach the shore eventually and won the match as their performance on the field, like in their previous match against Rising Pune Supergiants, was not at all good and they dropped few catches and missed stumpings as well. AB de Viliers (64 off 35) proved hero of their innings as he took the team out of danger when the team was struggling on 67 for 3 and K L Rahul (42), Virat Kohli (20) and Shane Watson (1) were in the pavilion, after the good opening from Virat Kohli and K L Rahul who scored 63 for the first wicket.
The mystery spinner K C Cariappa bowled well taking two important wickets of K L Rahul and Virat Kohli in his first over.
AB with the help of Sachin Baby (33 off 29) made an 88-runs stand and took the team to 175 for the loss of 6 wickets, a challenging total. AB de Villiers’s batted well with playing the shots at every corner of the ground.
Scorecard
Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings
| Details | Scores |
| V Kohli (c) c M Vijay b KC Cariappa | 20 (21b, 2x4, SR 95.24) |
| KL Rahul (wk) b KC Cariappa | 42 (25b, 6x4, 1x6, SR 168.00) |
| AB de Villiers c KC Cariappa b S Sharma | 64 (35b, 5x4, 2x6, SR 182.86) |
| S Watson b A Patel | 1 (3b, SR 33.33) |
| Sachin Baby run out (D Miller/ W Saha) | 33 (29b, 1x4, SR 113.79) |
| T Head c M Vijay b S Sharma | 11 (7b, 1x4, SR 157.14) |
| S Binny not out | 0 (0b, SR 0.00) |
| Extras (w4) | 4 |
| Total (6 Wickets, 20 Overs) | 175 (RR 8.75 runs per over) |
Kings XI Punjab Innings
| Details | Scores |
| H Amla c Binny b Watson | 21 (20b, 2x4, SR 105.00) |
| M Vijay (c) c Chahal b Watson | 89 (57b, 12x4, 1x6, SR 156.14) |
| W Saha (wk) run out (KL Rahul) | 16 (13b, 1x4, SR 123.08) |
| D Miller st KL Rahul b Chahal | 0 (1b, SR 0.00) |
| Marcus Stoinis not out | 34 (22b, 3x4, 1x6, SR 154.55) |
| F Behardien not out | 9 (7b, 1x4, SR 128.57) |
| Extras (lb3, w2) | 5 |
| Total (4 Wickets, 20 Overs) | 174 (RR 8.70 runs per over) |
By Prajakt K.
