Challengers bang on target

Half-centuries from Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers saw Royal Challengers Bangalore to a five-wicket success over Kings XI Punjab.

Kings XI slip to five-wicket defeat on home soil

Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers hit half-centuries as the Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a five-wicket win over the Kings XI Punjab in Chandigarh. Opening batsman Gayle slammed 87 off 56 balls and De Villiers 52 from 39 as the Kings XI chased down a target of 164 with three balls to spare. The fourth-wicket pair put on 131 to ensure the visitors were always on course, despite the best efforts of Kings XI medium pacer Parvinder Awana, who finished with figures of 4-34. Earlier, Royal Challengers seam duo Zaheer Khan (2-25) and Andrew McDonald (2-25) had each collected two wickets to help restrict the home side to 163-6. David Hussey top scored with 41 off 34 balls and Azhar Mahmood provided a late injection with 33 not out from 14 deliveries. The result moves the Royal Challengers above the Kings XI into seventh place in the nine-team Indian Premier League table.