Boucher boosts Bangalore

South Afriucan duo combine to win game for Bangalore in Mumbai.

Last updated: 20th April 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Boucher boosts Bangalore

Boucher: Match winner

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The Bangalore Royal Challengers won their first game of the Indian Premier League with South Africans Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis smashing them to a late win over Mumbai Indians.

Boucher and compatriot Kallis blazed 55 from 31 balls to earn a five-wicket win in Mumbai in the final over of the match for a first win in the tournament for the visitors.

Robin Uthappa had earlier been the star of the Mumbai innings as they made 165-6 from their 20 overs, and they looked like the might defend that total until the South African duo fired Bangalore to 166-5 with just two balls to spare.

Uthappa hit 48 from 38 balls for Mumbai, with Shaun Pollock adding a late cameo of an innings with 28 from just 12 balls.

Mumbai skipper Sachin tendulkar could not play due to injury, but Sanath Jayasuriya was there and he smashed 18 from the fifth over in his knock of 29 from 16 balls.

Uthappa effort

Uthappa then hit five fours and a six in his innings before being stumped by Boucher from the bowling of Balachandra Akhil.

Abhishek Nayar hit 20 from 14 balls to add to Pollock's effort to drag Mumbai up to 165-6 from their completed 20 overs.

Bangalore made just 82 all out as they lost their first IPL match, but they started much better in Mumbai with Shiv Chanderpaul making a quick 16 and Rahul Dravid 32.

Ross Taylor made 23 but with four overs left of their innings Bangalore still needed 40 to win the match.

Boucher and Kallis hit 19 runs from the 18th over to get them right back into the game, although Kallis went for 25 after a superb catch from Nayar.

The excellent Boucher stayed around though and he ensured the win with just two balls to spare as he ended with a brilliant 39 from just 19 balls in a match-winning effort.