Fiery Mandeep Power helps RCB to Win

Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore posted their first victory in home matches in Pepsi IPL 2015 after they defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (for the second time in the season) by seven wickets in a rain-affected contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

After RCB had opted to bowl, showers delayed the start of the match, which was eventually rescheduled to a 10-overs-a-side contest.

Andre Russell, who was sent in to bat at number three after the opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa had added 33 runs in 3.5 overs, was the star for the defending champions; his 45 from 17 balls included five boundaries and three towering sixes.

Russell 38-run partnership with Uthappa - contributing 32 runs and was involved in a 25-run stand with Ryan ten Doeschate, before he was dismissed with eight balls remaining in the innings. KKR finished their ten overs at 111 for 4.

RCB’s run-chase began on a quiet note with Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle scoring only four runs in the first over. But the two batsmen made up for the slow start almost immediately; Kohli hit Umesh Yadav for a six and a four, while Gayle finished the second over hitting one straight into the sight screen.

RCB further firmed up their position when Kohli hit Pat Cummins for a four and a six in the third over, while Gayle hammered Brad Hogg for two sixes in the fourth over. The KKR chinaman bowler gave his team the first breakthrough when Gayle’s flat hit landed in the hands of Russell at long on.

The wicket of AB de Villiers soon after meant the match was back in the balance. But Mandeep Singh, who had had a quiet tournament until then, stepped up and steered his team home. The 23-year old hit Umesh Yadav for consecutive boundaries off the final two balls of the ninth over, which meant RCB had to score 12 off the final over.

Brief scores
Kolkata Knight Riders - 111/4 (Russell 45)
Royal Challengers Bangalore - 115/3 (Mandeep Singh 45*, Kohli 34)
Result - Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 7 wickets
Points - Royal Challengers Bangalore 2, Kolkata Knight Riders 0
MOM - Mandeep Singh (RCB)