Virat Kohli is the player of the match: "Would have liked to cross the line, does not feel too good about the century. Didn't plan it, didn't feel at any stage that I would get to that hundred. The opportunity came at the end to strike a few. Chris Gayle should be back for the next game, we have missed him but have done well with the bat. The wicket was slowish and we had to change the pace and keep the ball on the body. It has to be in a winning cause."
Suresh Raina: "It's a good win. I thought it will be enough total for us when Virat got a win but we finished well. Didn't lose focus, had partnerships and credit to our batting unit. Smith is batting well at the top, he has done well for CSK and also in the PSL. At the moment, we are not sure about Finch's fitness. We will see about him in Delhi."
It wasn't to be for Virat Kohli today. Having scored his first T20 100, his bowlers failed him again as they failed to defend a total of 180. It was always going to be difficult for RCB. Smith and McCullum came out all guns blazing and it was always going to be tough for them to get back in the game. Suresh Raina played a neat hand and Dinesh Karthik carried his team with a perfectly timed innings of 50*. Gujarat will be very thrilled with the fact that they managed to chase this score down WITHOUT Aaron Finch. Well done to the Lions, another win for them. For the RCB, back to the drawing board. Questions have to be asked over Binny's role in this team. Doesn't get to bat, didn't bowl. Could have done better with another bowler maybe?
19.4 Watson to Bravo, FOUR! VICTORY! MINI CHAMPION DANCE! Game over. Slower ball on a length and Bravo smashed it skipped away to round off the match. That is that.
19.3 Watson to Karthik, OUT! Length delivery, Jadeja tries to run it down past third man for a boundary. KL Rahul dives to his left and takes an absolute blinder. What a different story it might have been without those extras this over. Still time for some drama though. Wow KL Rahul has plucked out a sensational catch behind the stumps. Brilliant reflexes. RCB breathing again, but will it be choked again shortly?
19.2 Watson to Karthik, 1 run, free hit, full toss, smashes to long off to bring up his 50! What an innings. Timed to absolute perfection. Tremendous innings by DInesh Karthik, has anchored the chase with some grace.
18.6 Abdulla to Karthik, FOUR! Crucial. Magnificent. Timed. Dances down the track and smashes it too straight for AB at long on, who cannot get to it, this is some batting by Dinesh Karthik, he has showed tremendous temperament and is now finishing off in style.
18.1 Abdulla to Karthik, FOUR! Length delivery outside off, DK walks across very early, gets in position, pulls the ball over short fine leg. Karthik has timed this innings to perfection. Lovely batting. Terrific.
17.5 Richardson to Karthik, 2 runs, DK down the track, plays a magnificent shot opening the face of his bat and guides it through the covers. Would have been a boundary. 99 times out of 100. But AB puts in the dive to save 2 crucial runs.
17.2 Richardson to Karthik, no run, beautiful slower ball, DROPPED! DK takes the bait, mistimes and the ball bobbles back to Richardon. Easy catch, time for redemption, but he drops it! Forgettable day for Richardson.
16.5 Abdulla to Karthik, 2 runs, short of a length, worked away with soft hands on the leg side for the double. Jadeja sprints across and completes that with ease.
16.2 Abdulla to Jadeja, SIX! Full ball just outside off, Jaddu gets down and SMASHES it over midwicket. This has got the crowd going. Oh yes, Jadeja swings across and the local crowd is loving their local boy smoking it.
15.4 Chahal to Raina, OUT! Chahal succeeds on the second occassion! Raina walks down the track and Chahal drops it wide and full again, Raina tries to clear long off. The ball doesn't have the legs on it and Abdulla collects easily. Finally Raina mistimes this, nice ball from Chahal who throws it wide, Raina cannot get timing, pouched by Abdulla, life in the game now? Game ON.
15.1 Chahal to Raina, 1 run, full and outside off, could have been dangerous had Raina missed the ball, however, he gets there and plays to deep extra cover. 50 run partnership up! Good momentum right through.
