Bangalore Royal Challengers

IPL: Bangalore Royal Challengers beat Kolkata Knight Riders

The Bangalore Royal Challengers beat Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets as both Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor returned to form.

McCullum blasted an unbeaten 84 in 64 balls as the Knight Riders made their way to 173 for four but Taylor was even more impressive, striking 81 not out in just 33 balls as the Challengers got home with four balls to spare.

Kallis cut Murali Kartik powerfully only to see McCullum dive full length to his left at cover to pull off a stunning catch. Kallis was as stunned as anybody, but he had to go and soon after, Ryder sliced a catch to Saurav Ganguly and once Robin Uthappa fell for seven and Rahul Dravid for 12, the Challengers were in trouble at 122 for four in the 16th over.

Step forward Taylor, who soon took Kartik for two sixes in two balls to get the run chase back on track and the deal was almost complete when Taylor and Mark Boucher (13 not out) took Ishant Sharma for 17 runs in the 18th over, Boucher hacking a chest-high full toss over the boundary ropes to exact a double punishment as the umpire had no choice but to call it a no ball.

Two more sixes off of Agit Agarkar left just five runs required from the last over and after Boucher scampered a leg bye, Taylor ended the match in supreme style by hoisting Angelo Mathews into the crowd at midwicket with his fifth six.

Earlier, the Knight Riders welcomed a return to form for captain McCullum, who led by example by hitting ten fours and two sixes, employing some deft touches to score boundaries over the wicket-keeper’s head as well as some crashing strokes through the off side. He was supported by David Hussey, who hit 43 in 27 balls on his first start of the 2009 IPL, with three fours and two sixes. McCullum kept hitting despite losing Ganguly (4), Arindam Ghosh (7), and Mathews (16) along the way.

Bangalore Royal Challengers now have 10 points from 11 games while Kolkata Knight Riders have 3 points from 11 games.

Tags: Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders