Gayle’s hostile half century leads RCB to second straight win

DELHI, India, CMC-West Indies opener Chris Gayle slammed a hostile half century to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a convincing ten wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here yesterday.

Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle

Gayle was in no-nonsense mood as he roared to an undefeated 62, a flamboyant display that propelled RCB to their second consecutive win at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

Virat Kohli who scored 35 not out watched the Chris Gayle show in 40 balls featuring six fours and four sixes which helped carry RCB to 99 after they bowled out Daredevils for 95 in 18.2 overs.

Mitchell Starc was the pick of the RCB bowlers with figures of three for 20 from his four overs.

Daredevils never recovered from 39 for 4 after Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews were dismissed off successive balls from pacer Varun Aaron.

Both Starc and Aaron generated sharp pace and bounce and were too much for the Daredevils top order as the match descended into a no-contest.

Kholi, who faced 23 balls, counted six boundaries in his innings.

Gayle, whose 50 came up in 29 balls, looked like a man in a hurry as he smashed his way around the ground.

In the second over, Dominic Joseph was given a taste of his fury when he smashed him down the ground for a six followed by a couple of boundaries.

RCB completed the victory with more than nine overs to spare.