AB de Villiers powers Bangalore into final

The IPL 2016 Qualifier 1 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Lions was how can the Suresh Raina-led Gujarat overcome the unstoppable Virat Kohli ?? After managing to post 158 on an uncharacteristically tricky M Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore, Gujarat found the answer in Dhawal Kulkarni, when the bowler got rid of Kohli for a second-ball duck – his first in 51 T20 innings – in the second over. Kohli went for a cut, but the back of length delivery didn’t bounce much and the RCB skipper played on to his stumps.

Kulkarni (4-1-14-4) would go on to rip apart RCB’s famed top-order. Chris Gayle (9) and KL Rahul (0) perished in Kulkarni’s second over which was a maiden. Ravindra Jadeja (4-0-21-2) chipped in with the wicket of Shane Watson (1) and Kulkarni then scalped Sachin Baby (0). After the end of powerplay overs, RCB were in a middle of a royal meltdown at 31 for 5.

GL: 158 after 20 overs 

RCB: 159/6 after 18.2 overs

 

Result: Win by 4 wickets