Kallis guides Royal Challengers to emphatic win

Jacques Kallis played a blistering knock in a mammoth run chase and handed Royal Challengers Bangalore their first win against Kings XI Punjab.

Kings XI won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to put a big total on the board. The visitors got off to a blazing start, scoring 50 runs in the Quick start period. Their openers, Manvinder Bisla and Ravi Bopara continued to dominate proceedings and went on to share a 129-run partnership which put the Kings in a commanding position at the 15 over mark. Bopara and Mahela Jayawardena did an excellent job of pushing the score in the Extreme Performance overs with a 53-run partnership off just 22 balls. Kings XI finished with 203 for three at the end of 20 overs, way ahead of the hosts at the half way mark as reflected on the Castrol Index worm.

The Challengers had a tough task on their hands, chasing over 200 runs. They started with a couple of quiet overs but Jacques Kallis and Manish Pandey got them going with 51 runs in the next four overs, taking them to 61 for no loss at the end of the Power Play. Pandey was out at a crucial stage but that brought Robin Uthappa out to the middle. Uthappa got into the act straight away and played a pivotal role in the run chase. The local lad scored a quick fire 51 off just 21 balls, contributing heavily in his 65-run partnership with Kallis which brought the teams much closer on the Castrol Index. The tide swung in Bangalore’s favour after Kallis scored 23 runs off the 18th over as they eventually got to the target with seven balls to spare.

Kallis was adjudged Man of the Match for his brilliant knock. His contribution in the Extreme Performance overs was critical in Bangalore getting over the line.