A superb 131-run partnership between Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers powered RCB to a comfortable 5-wicket win over hosts Kings XI Punjab at Mohali. The pair got together into the middle with RCB rocked back at 25 for 3 in 5.1 overs by medium pacer Parvinder Awana. The experienced duo batted calmly to take the game away gradually from Kings XI Punjab in a run chase of 164.
Chris Gayle smashed 8 fours and 4 sixes in his 87 from 56 balls while AB de Villiers got 52 from 39 balls with 6 fours. Both batsmen lost their wickets when RCB was within striking distance of overhauling the target if 164.
Toss and Teams: Royal Challengers have won the toss and asked Kings XI Punjab to bat first at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. The big news is that the homeside Skipper Adam Gilchrist misses out because of his hamstring injury. Kings XI Punjab will therefore be led by David Hussey. Azhar Mahmood and David Miller get their first game of IPL 5 for Kings XI. For the RCB, Andrew McDonald has come in for Dilshan.
Kings XI Punjab: PC Valthaty, N Saini (Wicket Keeper), SE Marsh, Mandeep Singh, DJ Hussey (Captain), DA Miller, Azhar Mahmood, PP Chawla, P Awana, P Kumar, Harmeet Singh
Royal Challengers Bangalore: AB McDonald, CH Gayle, MA Agarwal, V Kohli, AB de Villiers (Wicket Keeper), SS Tiwary, KB Arun Karthik, DL Vettori (Captain),, R Vinay Kumar, HV Patel, Z Khan
