IPL 2012: Gayle Blasts Bangalore To Commanding Win

IPL 2012: Gayle Blasts Bangalore To Commanding Win

Chris Gayle smashed his way back to the top of the Orange Cap standings

©REUTERS / Action Images

Royal Challengers Bangalore 142-1 (Gayle 82no) beat
Mumbai Indians 141-6 (Karthik 44) by nine wickets
Indian Premier League 2012, Mumbai
Scorecard

Chris Gayle smashed 82 not out in 59 balls as the Royal Challengers Bangalore crushed the Mumbai Indians to win the game 54 of the Indian Premier League 2012 by nine wickets.

Mumbai struggled in their innings and needed a late burst led by Kieron Pollard to post 141 for six but with Gayle in supreme form, Bangalore raced to victory with two overs to spare.

The left-hander hit five fours and six sixes to move to the top of the Orange Cap standings for leading run-scorers as Bangalore moved to fourth place in the table, just a point behind Mumbai, who delivered a performance a long way below their best in front of their home crowd.

Mumbai made a dreadful start as they lost James Franklin (1) and Rohit Sharma (0) to Ranganath Vinay Kumar but through Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik, were able to partially recover.

Tendulkar made 24 before he fell in the ninth over, caught and bowled by Harshal Patel but Karthik went on to top score with 44 in 39 balls, hitting three fours and one six.

He was dismissed when he was caught by Virat Kohli off Muttiah Muralitharan, who immediately struck again to have Dwayne Smith caught by Vinay Kumar trying to hit against the spin.

At 100 for five, Mumbai were in some trouble, but they were hauled up to their closing score by Ambati Rayudu's 22 in 17 balls, Kieron Pollard's 21 not out in 13 and Harbhajan Singh's 20 in 12.

Pollard hit two sixes in the final over while Vinay Kumar, Patel and Muralitharan all took two wickets apiece on day for doubles - twice Mumbai lost two wickets in one over.

Bangalore then scorched away when they batted, Tillakaratne Dilshan (19) and Chris Gayle blazing a trail at the top of the order.

Gayle was dropped by Dwayne Smith off RP Singh in the sixth over and another chance off Pragyan Ojha in the ninth just fell short and he took full advantage.

After Dilshan was trapped in front by Ojha, Gayle hammered two full tosses offered up by the same bowler into the crowd.

At his imperious best, Gayle was simply untouchable and after he had somewhat cautiously seen off Lasith Malinga's early spell, he crashed five fours and six sixes on his way to 82 not out in 59 balls that left the Mumbai Indians figuratively chasing shadows.

Virat Kohli got in on the act as well, making 36 in 25 balls and hitting a couple of sixes, including one to win the game in style with two overs to spare.

© Cricket World 2012