Pune, (IANS) Two stupendous batting efforts from South African AB de Villiers and Mandeep Singh enabled Royal Challengers Bangalore post a formidable 180/4 against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Eliminator at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium here on Wednesday.
De Villiers top scored for RCB with a 38 ball 66, while Mandeep with his unbeaten knock of 54 from 34 balls was the other major contributor.
For the Royals, Dhawal Kulkarni (2/28) was the pick of the bowlers.
Choosing to bat on a two paced wicket, RCB were off to a steady start as both openers Chris Gayle (27) and Virat Kohli cautiously negotiated the good deliveries.
Though Gayle had much of the strike for the first six overs, there were not many big shots hit as the rival bowlers kept hurling at an impeccable line and length.
But the last ball of the powerplay, bowled by Kulkarni, crashed into the Jamaican’s citadel, leaving the Royal Challengers at 41/1.
An over later, Kulkarni picked up the other big gun, skipper Kohli (12) who gifted him a return catch trying to work a delivery on the leg-side.
A few lusty hits from youngster Mandeep helped RCB reach 60/2 at the halfway stage after runs were down to a trickle.
However, de Villiers who had been quietly picking up the ones and twos, finally broke the shackles as he clobbered left arm spinner Ankit Sharma for 19 runs in the 15th over, and also bringing up the 100 for his side.
Mandeep joined in the act as the duo cruised along on high gear notching 37 from the next 18 balls, which included two huge sixes from de Villiers off Chris Morris in the 18th over.
Though the South African got run out, Mandeep ensured they had a formidable total on the scoreboard.