IPL 2012: Royal Challengers Thump Royals

IPL 2012: Royal Challengers Thump Royals

Thumbs up for Tillakaratne Dilshan, whose half-century helped set up a winning score fot he Royal Challengers Bangalore

©REUTERS / Action Images

Royal Challengers Bangalore 189-3 (Dilshan 76no) beat
Rajasthan Royals 143-7 (Appanna 4-19) by 46 runs
Indian Premier League 2012, Jaipur
Scorecard

AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan scored half-centuries before KP Appanna took four wickets as the Royal Challengers Bangalore thrashed the Rajasthan Royals by 46 runs in the latest Indian Premier League 2012 match.

De Villiers and Dilshan put on 122 for the fourth wicket as Bangalore closed on 189 for three and Appanna's haul of four for 19 saw Rajasthan close well short, on 143 for seven.

Rahul Dravid was the only batsmen to find any fluency for the home side, making 58, but he played a lone hand.

The result means that no fewer than six teams are now on eight points, with the Royals in fourth and the Challengers in sixth.

With Chris Gayle unable to open due to an upset stomach, Bangalore promoted Virat Kohli (16) alongside Tillakaratne Dilshan and the pair put on 23, having to work hard on a pitch that offered some extremely unpredictable bounce and movement.

He fell when he was caught by Brad Hodge off Pankaj Singh and Hodge took another catch to remove Mayank Agarwal for 15 off the bowling of Brad Hogg, who then trapped Gayle in front for four after the Jamaican came out to bat at number four.

From 67 for three, Bangalore - just as they had done in their previous match - fought back with AB de Villiers leading the way once again.

He was magnificent in making 59 in just 23 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes on the way to the second quickest half-century of the tournament so far. He unfurled some powerful strokes including two huge sixes early on, followed by delightfully placed cover drives and reverse shots.

Dilshan was less fluent but with the pressure taken off him by de Villiers' belligerence he was able to build his innings, accelerating towards the end with ten fours and one six as he closed on 76 not out in 58 balls.

The pair put on 122 in 52 deliveries to set Rajasthan a stiff target. The last time these two sides met, Ajinkya Rahane set up a Royals victory with a flawless century.

Today he never got into his stride and chipped KP Appanna to Luke Pomersbach having made just 13. Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid had made a storming start - just what was required with Rahane using up 18 balls.

He mixed calculated aggression with the silky smooth timing and placement that forged him a successul international career in the longest form of the game to score a classy 58 in 42 balls but he stood alone as Rajasthan's innings quickly sunk.

Appanna (4-19) struck gold to dismiss Owais Shah for ten and Shrevats Goswami for one before the prized wicket of Dravid, who was caught by Dilshan.

Harshal Patel grabbed a brace of wickets to remove Brad Hodge for ten and Hogg for 13 while Zaheer Khan removed the dangerous Kevon Cooper for eight.

Stuart Binny struck 20 not out in 18 balls but his cameo was far too little, far too late and for the second game in a row, he was left on the losing side at the very end.

© Cricket World 2012