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New Delhi: Chris Gayle blasted a whirlwind unbeaten 128, studded with incredible 13 sixes, as Royal Challengers Bangalore thumped Delhi Daredevils by 21 runs to keep their play-offs hopes alive in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.
With his first hundred of the season, Gayle became the first batsman to score 700 or more runs in a single edition in the history of IPL as RCB scored a mammoth 215 for one after being invited to bat at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground.
The marauding West Indian surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's 618 runs which the Mumbai Indians batsman had scored in 2009-10 while Gayle now has scored 706 runs this season.
With his skipper Virat Kohli (73 not out off 53 balls), Gayle rattled up an unconquered 204-run stand, second-highest partnership for any wicket in IPL, to set up the huge target.
Gayle's 62-ball knock was also the second highest individual score by a batsman in the IPL history, second only to Brendon McCullum's unbeaten 158, which the Kiwi had hit in the inaugural edition in 2008 for Kolkata Knight Riders.
With someone such as Virender Sehwag missing from the line-up, it was a daunting task for Delhi to chase down such a huge target and all they could manage was 194 for nine in their 20 overs.
Nevertheless, it was a spirited reply by Delhi with Ross Taylor top-scoring with his a 26-ball 55 and Y Venugopal Rao contributing 36 runs. Andre Russell (31 off 15) hit some lusty shots towards the end but it was too late for Delhi.
RCB pace colleagues Zaheer Khan (3/38), Prasanth Parameswaran (3/30) and R Vinay Kumar (2/35) shared eight wickets among them.
RCB are now fifth with 17 points and have their last match against Deccan Chargers on May 20. Chennai Super Kings' defeat at the hands of Kings XI Punjab earlier today helped Bangalore's cause as the defending champions stayed on 17 points with no more their league engagements remaining.
Taylor, who had been woefully out of touch, finally got going as he timed the ball sweetly and that was good news for Delhi ahead of knockout stage.
Taylor and Venugopal added quick 38 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter was removed by Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
Taylor kept going with confidence as he swept Muralitharan for a six to complete his half-century. It was his second six off the Sri Lankan.
Brief scores
Royal Challengers Bangalore 215 for 1 (Gayle 128*, Kohli 73*)
Delhi Daredevils 194 for 9 (Taylor 55. Parameswaran 3-30, Khan 3-38)
Result Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 21 runs
MOM Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Points: Royal Challengers Bangalore 2, Delhi Daredevils 0
