Bengaluru: A fine batting display by Chris Gayle and a tight last over by Vinay Kumar helped Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Mumbai Indians by two runs in a thriller at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. Quite happy with the performance of his team, the newly appointed skipper of RCB, Virat Kohli, said that the players bowled and fielded brilliantly to defend the total.
"Chris Gayle batted beautifully. We knew 157 was good enough. Despite the dew, our fielding was good. The way Unadkat bowled towards the end was good," said Kohli during the post-match presentation.
In all praise for Vinay Kumar Kohli said, “I was asked about our bowling options and I said that I have faith in my bowlers. Vinay really came out good in his last over. I just told the boys to give 100 per cent on the field as I do the same,” said Virat.
Meanwhile Mumbai skipper Ricky Ponting was a disappointed man as his team came close to winning the match. "I may have lost most of my finger nails. It's disappointing not to have won the game. We have to analyse the way we played. I think we were a bit behind with our bowing," Ponting said.
Ponting was in all priase He debutant Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up three wickets for 32 runs. "We had a good chat about Jasprit and he didn't let anyone down," Ponting said.
Meanwhile Chris Gayle, who was awarded the Man of the Match said, "I might come out swinging early in another game. I needed to stay there. The ball was seaming around. The key was to put up a partnership with Christian."
Vinay Kumar, who bowled a tight last over and denied MI the win, said after the match that he was always looking to bowl a yorker to Pollard. "I was always looking to bowl a yorker to Pollard. Many things were going through my mind. We had planned not to bowl a length ball. Three years back I would have bowled to his strength, but I am more mature now. It was a wonderful effort."
