IPL 2014 In a match crippled by poor batting, Royal Challengers Bangalore limped to just 124 and Kings XI Punjab were in danger of flaw to chase that all right total, before they hung on to win by 5 wickets and leave UAE with their 5th win in as many matches.
Chris Gayle was forced to sit out the first 4 marches due to injury and in the urge to make up for lost time, hammered 20 off the opening over by Maxwell, though not in the most believable manner. But when attempting to dish out the same treatment to Sandeep Sharma the following over, he played one impulsive stroke too many and that started a slide Royal Challengers never recovered from.
Sharma Sandeep, the right-arm seamer, gets prodigious in swing and that helped in took Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, though he was lucky to get the latter. The swing took the ball past leg stump when the ball struck Virat Kohli pads but Billy Bowden was persuaded it was hitting the stumps.
He pulled a short ball and found David Miller at deep midwicket with pin-point precision. It was a dubious shot, given the circumstances. Yuvraj Singh was the last recognized batsman and Royal Challengers were 3 short of 100 with more than 5 overs to play. With a paltry 124 to defend, Royal Challengers needed fast wickets. Two brilliant catches at well leg by Mitchell Starc gave them hope.
David Miller and Virender Sehwag kept Kings XI on track with a stand partnership of 45. However, a double-strike by the leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal added a twist. Miller edged a googly, Sehwag was adjudged caught behind as well but replays showed he hadn't nicked it. But finally Kings XI Punjab won by five wickets Bailey 16 and R Dhawan 23 finally stand in the ground.
Royal Challengers Bangalore-124/8(20)
Kings XI Punjab-127/5(18.5)
Player of the match
S Sharma
