Kohli finally gets IPL win after 6 defeats
Captain Virat Kohli hit a crucial 67 to guide his Royal Challengers side to their first win of the IPL season on Saturday after six straight defeats.
Chris Gayle smashed an unbeaten 99 to take Kings XI Punjab to 173-4 off their 20 overs, putting extra pressure on Kohli’s team who has made an error-strewn start to the campaign.
But the Indian skipper plundered early runs to put Bangalore on course. Even after the run rate eased, South African veteran AB de Villiers (59) and Australian Marcus Stoinis (28) reached the target in the final over to provide an eight-wicket win.
Bangalore’s six earlier losses had equalled the record for the worst start to an IPL season. “We have been unlucky in a couple of games,” Kohli said. “But after so many setbacks the players showed they still have desire.”
Kohli’s innings included eight fours, but he said the key to the victory was his bowlers taking four Punjab wickets in the middle of their innings to restrict their score. Only Gayle’s concentration, and his five sixes and 10 fours, ensured Punjab put up a competitive score. After Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets earlier Saturday for their second win of the season, Bangalore, who has never won an IPL title, remains rooted to the bottom of the table and needing a miracle to qualify for the playoffs.
England’s Jos Buttler struck 89 including 28, two sixes and four fours, off an over by West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph in Rajasthan’s win.
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