IPL: Handy Pandey Does The Job For Bangalore

IPL: Handy Pandey Does The Job For Bangalore

Manish Pandey (back to camera) is congratulated by Virat Kohli after he reached his century.

©REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Royal Challengers Bangalore 170-4 (Pandey 114no) beat
Deccan Chargers 158-6 (Giibbs 60, Akhil 2-18) by 12 runs
Indian Premier League, Centurion Park

Manish Pandey became the first Indian to score a century in the Indian Premier League, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 114 that set up a 12-run victory for the Royal Challengers Bangalore over the Deccan Chargers in the final group game of the 2009 competition.

Pandey's efforts enabled the Bangalore side to reach 170 for four before the Chargers closed on 158 for six, a result which means that both sides qualified for the semi-finals.

Pandey's mesmerising innings should have been ended before it got going but he took full advantage of being dropped by RP Singh when he had made just two runs early in the piece. The 19-year-old thumped ten fours and four sixes with shots all around the wicket and facing just 73 balls, his innings set his side up beautifully.

He was supported by Roelof van der Merwe (23) before two sixes in the final over from Virat Kohli (19 not out) put the gloss on a superb batting performance.

Left-arm Pragyan Ojha was the pick of the bowlers, dismissing Rahul Dravid (6) and Ross Taylor (1) to finish with two for 32.

The Chargers refused to be intimidated by the stiff challenge facing and although they never threatened to eliminate the Challengers by knocking off the runs in the 11.1 overs that would have seen the Kings XI sneak through, Herschelle Gibb's 60 in 43 balls gave Bangalore captain Anil Kumble plenty to think about.

The South African hit three fours and four sixes before holing out off the bowling of Balachandra Akhil (2-18), who had earlier dismissed the dangerous Adam Gilchrist for 15.

The Chargers lost wickets regularly once Gibbs departed in the search for quick runs as the required run rate rose uncontrollably, Andrew Symonds (18), Rohit Sharma (12) and Tirumalasetti Suman (12) all making starts before getting out. Sharma's dismissal in the penultimate over ended any realistic hopes of victory.

Azhar Bilakhia thrilled the Challengers fans with some lusty blows to finish unbeaten on 16; Kumble was the other bowler to pick up two wickets.

In the semi-finals, the Deccan Chargers take on the Delhi Daredevils tomorrow before the Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on the Chennai Super Kings on Saturday (23rd May).

We will be offering live unofficial audio coverage of both games - bookmark http://www.cricketworld.com/radio and we'll be on air in time for the matches beginning at 14:30 GMT.

© Cricket World 2009

Get the latest from Cricket World® with Facebook, twitter and YouTube.