Gayle 102 (not out) and Dilshan (38) put on 123 runs in opening
stand
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Big hitting.... Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Chris
Gayle celebrates scoring a unbeaten century (102 not out)
during the IPL Twenty20 match between Royal Challengers
Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at The Eden Garden
Stadium in Kolkata on April 22, 2011. Gayle and newly
appointed Sri Lankan Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (38) added
123 runs for the opening partnership that paved the way for
victory. Kolkata Knight Riders made 171 for 5 wickets in 20
overs and Royal Challengers with Gayle and Dilshan going
great ‘guns’ made 175 for 1 wicket in 18.1 overs. (AFP |
IPL: KOLKATA, India, April 23 (AFP) - Newly-arrived Chris Gayle
hammered an unbeaten 102 off just 55 balls to power Royal Challengers
Bangalore to a nine-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the
Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday. Gayle, who sparked controversy in
midweek when he made himself unavailable for the West Indies home series
against Pakistan, cracked seven sixes and 10 fours as Bangalore achieved
a 172-run target with 11 balls to spare for their second win in six
matches.
In another match, Rohit Sharma smashed 87 and off-spinner Harbhajan
Singh bagged 5-18, including three wickets in one over, as Mumbai
Indians beat Chennai Super Kings by eight runs.
Chennai finished at 156-9 chasing a 165-run target despite impressive
knocks from Subramaniam Badrinath (71 not out) and Australian Michael
Hussey (41). Mumbai now top the table with four wins in five games.
Gayle put his team on course for victory with a 123-run stand for the
opening wicket with Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan (38).
There was no stopping Gayle, who completed the victory and his
century when he hit left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan through the covers
for a four. Virat Kohli was the other notable contributor with an
unbeaten 30.
Kolkata, who suffered their third defeat in six matches, earlier
posted a competitive total, thanks to skipper Gautam Gambhir (48), Yusuf
Pathan (46) and South African Jacques Kallis (40).
Kallis put on 44 off just 4.5 overs for the opening wicket with
Australian Brad Haddin (18) and 58 for the second wicket with Gambhir
before Pathan stepped up the run-rate in the closing overs.
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Mumbai Indians bowler Harbhajan Singh (L) takes a return
catch to dismiss unseen Chennai Super Kings batsman Joginder
Sharma during the IPL Twenty20 match between Chennai Super
Kings and Mumbai Indians at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai
on Friday Harbhajan Singh tooks for 5 for 18. AFP |
Mumbai Indians fast bowler Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga took 2
for 20 and helped his team to beat Chennai Super Kings.
Mumbai Indians made 164 for 4 wickets in 20 overs and
Chennai Super Kings made 156 for 9 wickets in 20 overs. In
the same match Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh took 5 for 18
to help Mumbai Indians win. AFP |
Sharma boosted the Mumbai innings after two wickets, including that
of skipper Sachin Tendulkar (five), fell for 13 runs. He hit five sixes
and eight fours in his 48-ball knock.
He added 61 for the third wicket with Ambati Rayudu (27) and 87 for
the next with Australian Andrew Symonds (31 not out). He also held a
superb diving catch to account for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (three).
Chennai were strongly placed at 98-2 before West Indies’ Kieron
Pollard took a brilliant diving catch at short mid-wicket to remove
Hussey, who had added 60 for the third wicket with Badrinath.
Kolkata Knight Riders: 171-5 in 20 overs (G. Gambhir 48, Y. Pathan
46, J. Kallis 40; S. Aravind 2-37) lost to Royal Challengers, Bangalore
175-1 in 18.1 overs (C. Gayle 102 not out, T. Dilshan 38, V. Kohli 30
not out) by nine wickets.
Mumbai Indians: 164-4 in 20 overs (R. Sharma 87, A. Symonds 31 not
out, A. Rayudu 27; D. Bollinger 2-30) beat Chennai Super Kings 156-9 in
20 overs (S. Badrinath 71 not out, M. Hussey 41, Harbhajan Singh 5-18,
L. Malinga 2-20) by eight runs. |
