Dubai: An outstanding, unbeaten 52 ball 90 from Virat Kohli paved the way for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to come out on top as they beat a below par Chennai Super (CSK) Kings by 37 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here on Saturday.
Chasing a fighting score of 169/4, the Super Kings could only manage 132/8 from their quota of 20 overs. The Chennai innings could never quite get going as they began losing crucial wickets right from the outset. Both openers Shane Watson (14) and Faf Du Plesis (8) gave their wickets away cheaply.
Ambati Rayadu came up with an ungainly 42 off 40 balls and was supported by newbie Narayan Jagadeesan (33). Even the well set duo could never change gears and launch into an attack. As the partnership broke, so did the backbone of the Kings batting and neither skipper Dhoni (10) or the likes of Ravindra Jadeja could pull of an rescue act for the men in yellow.
Earlier in the day, Kohli won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first on a flat deck. After an early set back with Aaron Finch being cleaned up, Devdutt Padikkal (33) knitted an useful partnership of 53 runs with Kohli for the second wicket.
Thereafter there were three quick wickets that fell for Bangalore including that of their talisman AB De Villiers who went back for a duck and it looked like Kohli had to produce something special again for his team.
With Shivam Dube (22*) by his side Kohli took the game deep and then launched a scathing attack on the Chennai bowlers with the last three overs producing 52 runs.
For his innings Kohli was also judged the player of the match.
Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore: 169/4 (Virat Kohli 90*; Shardul Thakur 2/40) beat Chennai Super Kings: 132/8 (Ambati Rayadu 42; Chris Morris 3/19) by 37 runs.
