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Jaipur: Bangalore is not just about Chris Gayle. There's a certain AB de Villiers too, considered by many as one of world's best batsmen at present.
The South African came in after Gayle failed for the second time against Rajasthan, and played a cracker of an innings. His 23-ball 59 and Tillakaratne Dilshan's 76 ensured that Bangalore reached a formidable 189 on a wicket that had variable bounce and good turn.
That proved enough for Bangalore as they earned their 'revenge', winning their return match against Rajasthan by 46 runs at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday.
Rajasthan's chase had a valiant 58 from skipper Rahul Dravid, but when Ajinkya Rahane and Owais Shah departed without contributing much, the hosts were never in the race. Bangalore had one more hero in KP Appanna, the wrecker in chief who derailed Rajasthan's chase.
The left-arm spinner used the turn in the wicket to good advantage, grabbing four wickets for a miserly 19 runs. His victims included Rahane, Shah and Dravid, effectively breaking Rajasthan's back. The Rajasthan innings ended at 143 for 7, their first defeat at home this season.
Even though Appanna grabbed the spotlight with the ball, it was Dilshan and De Villiers who set up the win with their late onslaught.
The duo scripted an unbeaten 122-run partnership in 52 balls, 82 of those coming in the last five overs. De Villiers smashed five sixes, some of the cleanest hits that you'll see. Soon, Dilshan, who was anchoring the innings till then, joined in with some big ones. Before the two got together, it seemed Bangalore would have to settle for something around 160, having scored just 62 in the first 10 overs.
Rajasthan's bowling in the death once again exposed their shortcomings. As De Villiers and Dilshan went for their murderous charge, the bowlers seemed to lack ideas. Having left out Amit Singh, Dravid preferred to bowl out Pankaj Singh within the first eight overs. The Rajasthan bowler is at his best at this stage and later, there is always a chance that he might concede some runs.
Leaving the last few overs to Siddharth Trivedi and Kevon Cooper did not help matters, as the lack of international experience showed. Surprisingly, Stuart Binny wasn't given the ball as Dravid kept faith in only five bowlers.
Brief scores
Royal Challengers Bangalore 189 for 3 (Dilshan 76*, de Villiers 59*)
Rajasthan Royals 143 for 7 (Dravid 58, Appanna 4-19)
Results Royal Challengers Bangalore by 46 runs
MOM AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Points Royal Challengers Bangalore 2, Rajasthan Royals 0
