BANGALORE, India, CMC – Chris Gayle failed again as Royal Challengers Bangalore plunged to their third straight loss and sixth of the Indian Premier League season with a five-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals here yesterday.
The West Indies left-hander scored just 19 in Bangalore’s impressive 190 for five from their 20 overs, after they opted to bat first at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Royals made light work of the target, however, strolling to 191 for five with seven balls left in the contest.
The defeat left RCB three from bottom on six points in the eight-team standings while Royals are third on 12 points, just two points off the two top placed teams, Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings.
Gayle lost opening partner Virat Kohli for just four with the score on six in the third over and buckled down to strike three fours in his 25-ball stay at the crease.
However, with the score on 38 in the eighth over, Gayle edged a googly from leg-spinner Pravin Tambe, to be taken behind.
Yuvraj Singh then blasted am amazing 83 from 38 balls and South Africa’s AB de Villiers, 58 from 32 balls, in a 130-run, fourth wicket stand that lifted RCB.
In reply, Royals were stumbling at 106 for five in the 14th over before Australians Steve Smith (48 not out) and James Faulkner (41 not out) carried their side home in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 85 runs.
In the other game in Cuttack, Sunil Narine’s Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets.
Narine took one for 30 from his four overs as Kings XI were held to 149 for eight, despite opener Virender Sehwag’s 72.
In reply, Gautam Gambhir stroked 63 not out to see KKR home with two overs left.
