Bangalore Royal Challengers

IPL: Bangalore Royal Challengers beat Mumbai Indians

Royals Challengers Bangalore ran to a thumping nine-wicket win in a DLF Indian Premier League match against the Mumbai Indians at the Wanderers.

The Mumbai Indians top order was ripped out by the Royal Challengers Bangalore debutant Dillon du Preez. The man from Bloemfontein had a dream start to his DLF IPL career as he picked up the wicket of the legendary Tendulkar with just his third ball and followed that immediately with the wicket of young Ajinkya Rahane as part of a double wicket maiden over. With the second ball of his next over Du Preez dismissed the Mumbai Indians man of the match from their victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, JP Duminy. Sanath Jayasuriya and Bravo stabilised the Mumbai Indians innings with a partnership of 60 runs for the fourth wicket, with Jayasuriya going to a fine half century.

However four balls after reaching that landmark he slogged Roelof van der Merwe’s first ball to the square leg boundary where Vinay Kumar held a comfortable catch to dismiss the veteran Sri Lankan for 52, which came off 43 balls and included six fours and a six. Bravo and Nayar added 66 for the fifth wicket with Bravo finishing unbeaten on 50 off 40 balls with a six and two fours. Du Preez finished with 3/32 from four overs, while Praveen Kumar though wicket less conceded just 15 runs in his three overs while also bowling a maiden.

Kallis and Uthappa made light of the Mumbai Indians’ target of 150, racing to the required total with 11 balls to spare. In the process they broke the DLF IPL record for the second wicket previously held by teammates Wasim Jaffer and Ross Taylor of 89 set against the Chennai Super Kings last year, by making 126 runs off 95 balls.

Kallis was in an unusually adventurous mood from the start, taking two fours off the first over before smashing the dangerous Lasith Malinga for two sixes – one over midwicket, the other a magnificent square cut over point. Though his opening partner, Wasim Jaffer fell to a rather casual flick off the legs, in Uthappa, Kallis found a perfect ally and together the two set about the Mumbai Indians bowling with mesmerising brilliance. However with Kallis displaying serene excellence at the other end, Uthappa settled down and once he got a feel for the conditions he let his talents shine through.

There was some exquisite shot making from both, with Uthappa’s six off Malinga over midwicket drawing gasps from another raucous crowd that had gathered on a chilly night at the Bullring.
By the time Sachin Tendulkar went back to Malinga for a late burst in the 17th over the game was pretty much over. Kallis and Uthappa merely coasted to victory, with Kallis finishing unbeaten 69 off 59 balls with five fours and two sixes and Uthappa making 66 off 42 balls hitting eight fours and a two sixes in the process.

Tags: Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL, Mumbai Indians