Jacques Kallis posted an unbeaten half-century to guide Bangalore to a seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.
Bangalore storm to victory over Mumbai Indians
Jacques Kallis posted an unbeaten half-century to guide Bangalore Royal Challengers to a seven-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians.
The Royal Challengers now move to the top of the Indian Premier League after delivering another convincing performance, restricting the Indians to an uninspiring 151 for nine from their 20 overs.
Fast bowler Dale Steyn and medium-pacer Vinay Kumar claimed three wickets apiece and were aided by a superb fielding display, while Kallis smashed an unbeaten 66 and partner Manish Pandey made 40 as Bangalore wrapped up their victory with five deliveries remaining.
Dismissed
Batting first, Sanath Jayasuriya (two) was dismissed early for the Indians, trapped in front by Steyn, but Sachin Tendulkar replied with three successive boundaries in the bowler's next over and went on to score without difficulty.
The Royal Challengers regained a measure of control with the wicket of Aditya Tare, but his replacement, Saurabh Tiwary (25), swiftly settled in and appeared to be setting the Indians up for a huge total.
However, Anil Kumble put a stop to Mumbai's scoring surge in the eighth over as the leg-spinner bowled Tiwary through the gate.
But it was Vinay that unleashed the onslaught in the 11th over as the medium-pacer made an outstanding comeback following his wayward first two overs.
Vinay had the threatening Ambati Rayudu caught behind for three in his third over before bowling Tendulkar for 25 and trapping Dwayne Bravo leg before for one as the Indians fell from 71 to two to 76 for six.
Kieron Pollard (21) and Rajagopal Sathish (24) repaired some damage for Mumbai, putting on 47 together before Steyn dealt another blow by removing both batsmen in one over.
Zaheer Khan then blazed a nine-ball 23, 16 of which came off the final over sent down by Praveen Kumar, to edge the Indians past the 150 mark.
The Indians were desperate for early wickets to remain in contention, but Rayudu fumbled the chance to take Kallis in the second over and it was to prove a costly error.
Hammered
Pandey hammered Zaheer for two boundaries in the third over before Kallis contributed at the other end, thrashing Lasith Malinga for three boundaries in the fourth.
By the time Harhajan Singh dismissed Pandey for 40, the Royal Challengers needed just 67 from the 10.1 remaining overs.
Robin Uthappa added 23 while Virat Kohli was run out for 17 before Kallis saw Royal Challengers over the line, with England batsman Eoin Morgan unbeaten on seven off six balls.
