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Mumbai: Team Bangalore are responding well to the change of guard. Virat Kohli once again assumed the role of skipper, as regular captain Daniel Vettori dropped himself from the playing XI, for the second match in a row, to accommodate legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, in their game against Team Mumbai, at the Wankhede on Wednesday.
The move worked as Murali conceded only 24 from his four overs and picked the vital wickets of Dinesh Karthik (for a well-made 44) and Dwayne Smith off successive deliveries. Bangalore, chasing 142 for victory, got home with two overs to spare. They also pocketed two points to take their tally to 13 and jump from seventh to fourth on the points table. Mumbai stay on third place with 14 points.
Gayle and Dilshan put on 48 for the first wicket to ease any early worries for the visitors. Gayle (82 not out, 59 balls, 5x4, 6x6), in fact, survived a dropped catch on 21 by Smith at point off RP Singh. Smith, the hero against Team Chennai, contributed only two with the bat to become zero from hero.
More so because it cost the hosts dear as the big Jamaican smashed 22 runs off Pragyan Ojha's second over which included three consecutive sixes. Those strikes didn't just win Bangalore the game when things were getting just a little tight with 88 needed off 10 overs, they also made the former Windies skipper the deserving owner of the Orange Cap for being the top run-scorer with 515 runs.
The real heroes for Bangalore were the bowlers though and that would delight the team management as bowling has been their weak-link. Vinay Kumar, Harshal Patel and Muralitharan took two wickets each and restricted Mumbai to 141 for 6.
Vinay, in fact, got the wickets of James Franklin (1) and Rohit Sharma (0) in the span of four deliveries. Mumbai never really recovered from those early setbacks.
Bangalore's triumph, their third in as many games against Mumbai while playing away, was also due to some bold captaincy by Kohli. He kept attacking fields even after the powerplay overs. He also scored 36 not out (25 balls, 1x4, 2x6) to suggest a return to form.
Brief scores
Mumbai Indians 141 for 6 (Karthik 44)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 142 for 1 (Gayle 82*, Kohli 36)
Result Royal Challengers Bangalore won by nine wickets
MOM Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Points Royal Challengers Bangalore 2, Mumbai Indians 0
