Gayle, de Villiers help Bangalore beat Punjab

By
AFP
|
Gayle, de Villiers help Bangalore beat Punjab
MOHALI: The 131-run fourth wicket partnership between Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers paved the way for an easy five-wicket win for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kings XI Punjab in the 25th match of the Indian Premier League – V here at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Friday.

Chasing 164, Bangalore completed their third victory in 19.3 overs after Gayle and de Villiers hit half-centuries.

Gayle made 87 off 56 balls with four sixes and eight fours while de Villiers scored 52 from 39 balls with six boundaries.

Their partnership was the fourth century stand and the highest for any wicket so far in the tournament.

For Punjab, medium-pacer Parvinder Awana captured four wickets for 34 runs.

Earlier, Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and put Punjab into bat who scored 163 for six in the allotted 20 overs.

Main scorers were Australiann batsman David Hussey hit 41 and Pakistan-born English county allrounder Azhar Mahmood, who was playing his first match in the tournament, remained not out on 33.

Seamers Zaheer Khan and Andrew McDonald claimed two wickets each for Bangalore.

Pakistan’s first sports tv channel Geo Super televised this match live from Mohali.