IPL 11 | Match Recap: Kohli, de Villiers Keep RCB’s Hopes Alive

From here on, Royal Challengers Bangalore have to win all their remaining 3 matches to stay in hunt for play-offs

Kohli and de Villiers put together an 118-run stand to defeat Delhi Daredevils by 5 wickets

(Photo Courtesy: BCCI)

Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers produced a batting masterclass to keep Royal Challengers Bangalore afloat in the play-off race in IPL 2018. Riding on Kohli (70) and De Villiers (72*) half centuries RCB overcame a stiff target of 182 set by Delhi Daredevils with 5 wickets and six balls to spare.

After losing both their openers within a span of eighteen balls, the star duo of Royal Challengers staged an impressive batting display to snatch the game away from Delhi in their own backyard on Saturday.

Kohli played a captain’s knock, scoring a 40-ball 70, which included seven boundaries and three massive sixes. AB de Villiers gave Kohli able support and accelerated once the skipper was gone to see the Bangalore side home. He remained unbeaten on 72.

For Delhi, young Sandeep Lamichhane, who is the first player from Nepal to play in the IPL, made his debut. He bowled the first over for Delhi and managed to dismiss Parthiv Patel in his second over to claim the first wicket of his IPL career. He ended with handsome figure of 1/25 in his four overs at an economy of 6.25.

Earlier, put into bat Delhi, just like Bangalore, lost their openers early. Yuzvendra Chahal, who failed to make any impact for his side till now, dismissed both Prithvi Shaw and Jason Roy.

Usual suspects Rishabh Pant and skipper Shreyas Iyer showed some power packed batting to take the team to safety. Pant scored 61 runs off 34 balls before he got out.

Abhishek Sharma, who was making his debut, gave finishing touches to the innings, smashing his way to 46 runs off just 19 balls to give the hosts a very good chance to clinch the fourth win of a rather forgettable campaign.

This win keeps the Royal Challengers at seventh position at the second last position in the standings with 8 points from 11 matches and gives them a shot at the play-offs provided, they win all of their next matches in the campaign.

(With inputs from IANS)

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