Last-Ball Drama As Bangalore Clinch Semi-Final Place

Last-Ball Drama As Bangalore Clinch Semi-Final Place

Virat Kohli hit a belligerent 70 as the Challengers chased down 215 to make the semi-finals

©REUTERS / Action Images

Royal Challengers Bangalore 215-8 (Dilshan 74) beat
South Australia 214-2 (Harris 108no) by two wickets
Champions League Twenty20, Bangalore
Scorecard

The Royal Challengers Bangalore qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League Twenty20 by winning their final group game against South Australia with a six off the final ball.

Wicket-keeper Arun Karthik smashed Daniel Christian over midwicket as the home side pulled off the sixth highest run chase in Twenty20 history and easily the highest run chase in Champons League cricket.

They had been set 215 after Daniel Harris scored an outstanding century and South Australia were beaten despite Shaun Tait's excellent figures of five for 31.

Brilliant innings of 74 in 47 balls from Tillakaratne Dilshan and 70 in 36 from Virat Kohli kept Bangalore in the hunt after Chris Gayle (26 in 15 balls) had fallen but Tait had Kohli caught by Cameron Borgas and Dilshan bowled to seemingly put his side in control.

Saurabh Tiwary (9), Mayank Agarwal (6), Daniel Vettori (8), Raju Bhatkal (0) and Syed Mohammed (2) all fell in the push for quick runs before Kartik held his nerve and close the group stage in the most dramatic fashion.

Harris had earlier played beautifully in making 108 not out in 61 balls, stroking 17 fours and hitting two sixes while Callum Ferguson made an attractive 70 in 43 deliveries.

Christian added a brisk 27 in nine balls at the end but unfortunately for him, he would turn out to be on the receiving end as the match concluded.

As a result, Bangalore joined the Mumbai Indians, Somerset and New South Wales in the semi-finals.

© Cricket World 2011