They have never lost a game at Pune and Royal Challengers Bangalore maintained their clean slate with an impressive 13-victory over the home team Rising Pune Supergiants. Boosted by a scintillating 155-run stand between captain Virat Kohli (80) and AB de Villiers (83) that took RCB to a challenging 185/3, RPS in their maiden outing in front of the home crowd made 172/8. With 14 of the 16 matches won by the team batting second, the RCB are only team to have won the match twice while setting a target.
Chasing a stiff total, the home side got off to a disastrous start that saw captain MS Dhoni walk out to bat before the completion of the third over. The team’s three overseas batsmen – Francois du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen and Steve Smith – were back in the dugout in the space of just six balls. After losing du Plessis on the fourth ball of the second over, Pietersen was forced to head back after what looked like a calf muscle issue. Faced with a double blow, the home team were pushed further into a corner when Smith was run out courtesy a direct from Kohli in the third over.
The wicket sparked extended celebrations as RCB realized they had one foot in the door. Three quick wickets forced Ajinkya Rahane and Dhoni to play with caution and the two tried to salvage the RPS innings with a 91-run stand before Rahane was stumped off debutant Tabraiz Shamsi.
Earlier, RCB lost KL Rahul in the fourth over, but the early wicket only made matters worse for Pune as it brought de Villiers to the crease. The in-form pair of Kohli-de Villiers notched up their third 100 plus partnership in just the fourth game. In red-hot form, the bowlers were made to toil hard as the two once again guided RCB to a position of strength.
Ishant Sharma’s opening spell of three overs proved costly for the home team as the lanky pacer conceded 31 runs. It was business as usual for de Villiers, who brought up his half-century – his 20th 50 plus score in IPL- in only 25 balls.
The South African was effective against both the quick and the slower bowlers. Introduced into the attack in the 11th over, young M. Ashwin was put under pressure immediately when ABD slogged swept him for a six off the first ball. His first over ended with another maximum off the last ball. Dhoni, who was again sharp behind the wicket, had no option but to turn to R. Ashwin.
The experienced offie was the most impressive, giving away only 22 runs in his three overs. Of his 10 balls to Kohli, he bowled four dots while six singles were taken of the rest. While Virat did slowdown in the middle overs, bringing up his 22nd IPL fifty in 47 balls, he accelerated towards the end.
In the next 16 balls before getting out in the final over, Virat scored 30 runs.Ishant had a forgettable day as his fourth and penultimate over of the innings was carted for two boundaries and a six. His four overs went for 47 runs without a wicket.
Batting records tumbled again as the Kohli-ABD duo became the only pair to have three 150 plus partnerships in the T20s. While they batted in identical fashion, both got out in the final over bowled by Perera off successive deliveries.
Brief scores
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 185/3 in 20 overs (AB de Villiers 83, Virat Kohli 80, Thisara Perera 3/34)
Rising Pune Supergiants – 172/8 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 60, MS Dhoni 41, Thisara Perera 34) by 13 runs
Man of the Match: AB de Villiers for his magnificent 83
