IPL 2017: Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli combine to fire Bangalore to victory over Gujarat

The opening partnership between Chris Gayle, left, and Virat Kohli, centre, set the foundations for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Manjunath Kiran / AFP

An opening century partnership by Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore to an emphatic victory over Gujarat Lions in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday evening.

Gayle has endured an underwhelming start to IPL 10, having gone for 32, six, and 22 in his previous three innings. However, the West Indies batsman offered a timely reminder of his powers with a 38-ball 77 that included seven sixes.

Partnering Gayle at the top of the Bangalore order, Kohli was restrained in comparison, his 64 coming off 50 balls. The Bangalore and India captain now has two half centuries from his first three innings having missed his side’s first three matches with injury.

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It was their 122-run stand that set the tone for Bangalore’s victory, although when Gayle was dismissed lbw by Basil Thampi in the 12th over, Travis Head kept up the relentless scoring with a 16-ball 30. After Dhawal Kulkarni took the wicket of Kohli in the 15th over, Head was then joined by Kedar Jadhav, who contributed an even brisker 38 runs off 16 deliveries.

Set an improbable 214 to win, Gujarat’s reply got off to the worst possible start when Dwayne Smith was caught by Mandeep Singh off the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal for one in the first over.

Suresh Raina then made an explosive cameo, hitting 23 from just eight balls before Chahal claimed his second wicket of the match.

Aaron Finch (19) and Ravindra Jadeja (23) both contributed to the Gujarat innings, but it was Brendon McCullum who offered his side a fighting chance. The former New Zealand captain’s 44-ball 72 anchored Gujarat’s response, and he was offered support in the shape of Ishan Kishan, whose 39 runs came from 16 deliveries.

However, Bangalore’s total proved too big to chase down and Gujarat fell 22 runs short.

The result sees Bangalore climb off the foot of the table and up to sixth, with Gurajat replacing them as the bottom side.

Wednesday’s match sees the Sunrisers Hyderabad host Delhi Daredevils.

* The National staff

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