Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it clear that to end up successful in the Indian Premier League they are not solely dependent on Chris Gayle. On a day when Chris Gayle failed to deliver, it was AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan who excelled with the bat first up to post a target of 190 and then later on K.P Appanna cleaned the house with his bowling. It was an all round performance by Bangalore which saw them beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 46 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday.
Mail Today writes that blistering half centuries by Dilshan and de Villiers helped RCB secure an easy 46 runs victory over the RR in Jaipur. The victory has helped RCB to come on level in terms of points with other top teams in the tournament. Dilshan and de Villiers came together at a point where RCB were heading nowhere and the scoreboard was reading 67 for three in 12 overs. But these two put up an unbeaten 122 runs partnership in 50 balls to help their post an imposing target of 190. Dilshan scored 76 runs of 56 balls which included 10 fours and one six whereas de Villiers 23 balls 59 runs comprised of three fours and five huge sixes.
A report in The Hindu says that it de Villiers power packed innings was what that decided the course of the match. His strong hitting fetched his three fours and five sixes and took full control of the situation with Dilshan supporting him from the other hand.
A Times of India report says that even though Rajasthan’s skipper Rahul Dravid posted a brave 58, but when Ajinkya Rahane and Owais Shah departed without making a substantial contribution, the hosts looked completely knocked out of the race. For Bangalore, it was K.P Appanna who shone with the ball and scalped four wickets by giving away just 19 runs. His wickets which included that of Rahane, Shah and Dravid and his efforts helped RCB restrict 147-7.