A capacity crowd at Eden Gardens witnessed some tremendous batting display from Kohli and AB on Monday.[/caption]Kolkata : Royal Challengers Bangalore's star studded batting line-up fired all cylinders to thrash Kolkata Knight Riderrs by nine wickets at the Eden Gardens and keep their play-off aspiration alive in the Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament.
Chasing a challenging 182 on a turning Eden Gardens track, Chris Gayle returned to form and set up the chase with his 31-ball 49 (5x4, 4x6) before skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers posted respective halfcenturies in a 115-run unbroken partnership from 68 balls to seal the chase with eight balls to spare.
It was their fifth hundred plus run stand in this season as RCB maked an impression with thunderous support from a packed Eden Gardens as the crowd seemed to have switched loyalty with their sheer class on display.
Continuing his record run in the season, Kohli posted an unbeaten 75 from 51 balls (5x4, 3x6) while De Villiers remained not out on 59 from 31 balls (5x4, 3x6) as they carried forward from where they left against Gujarat Lions.
Kohli completed his halfcentury in 37 balls and also became the highest rungetter in a IPL season surpassing Gayle's 733 as RCB moved to fifth positon with 12 points from as many matches and remained in the hunt.
Kohli never looked back after he was dropped by 32 by his counterpart Gambhir at point as there seemed to be some friction between the duo while the RCB skipper sealed the chase.
Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey struck respective half-centuries before Andre Russell's 19-ball 39 not out led them to 183/5.
Put in, KKR lost their first wicket in third over with Iqbal Abdulla dismissing Robin Uthappa (two) cheaply.
But RCB's much-maligned bowling failed to make further inroads and credit should be given to Gambhir (51 from 34 balls; 7x4) and Pandey (50 from 35 balls; 5x4, 2x6) who stitched 76 runs from 49 balls for the second wicket to brighten their prospects.
Batting with amazing aggression and intent, the left-right hander duo posted respective halfcenturies -- Gambhir fifth this season and a record 31st in the tournament, while Pandey notched his second fifty, smashing the ball all around the park.
But poor coordination in running between the wicket cost Gambhir his wicket as from being 87/1 at midway stage, KKR were reduced to 125/5 in 15.2 overs losing four wickets in 29 balls, something that could have eluded them the magical 200-mark.
Before it could go worse, Russell stepped up the runrate with three sixes and two boundaries in an unbroken 58 run stand from 30 balls with Shakib Al Hasan (18 not out from 11 balls; 1x4, 1X6) to take them to a fighting total.
RCB next face Kings XI Punjab at home May 1 and then travel to Raipur to face Delhi Daredevils May 22.
KKR on the other hand travel to Kanpur to face Gujarat Lions May 19 and will conclude their league campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad May 22.
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