Sat, 09 Apr 2011 - IP Kochi vs IP Bangalore, IPL 2011, 3rd Match - Bulletin

de Villiers' heriocs power Bangalore to easy win

Led by AB Devillers’ batting heroics, Bangalore chased down a target of 162 runs set by Kochi successfully to kickstart this season’s campaign on a winning note. South African star batsman paced his innings according to the situation and exploded when it needed to give his side 6 wicket victory with eight balls to spare.

Devillers hit as many as five six in his undefeated 54 including three off one RV Gomez over that fetched 20 runs for Bangalore when they needed 33 runs off 18 balls. The over virtually sealed the game for Bangalore as formalities were done by Asad Pathan who hit three boundaries to give finishing touches to the chase.

Bangalore start to the chase wasn’t inspiring one for them as they lost dashing Tilkeratne Dilshan in second over with scoreboard reading only seven runs but young Mayank Agarwal set the match alive with some brave strokes hitting two sixes including one of Murlitharan’s first ball that sailed into midwicket and was part of two crucial partnerships.

After combining with Virat Kohli to put on 42 runs, Agarwal gave solid support to Devillers to score 37 runs for the third wicket before getting out at an individual score of 33 runs.

Then it was Devillers all the way with S Tiwary playing a good hand by hitting a 24-ball 26 and making sure his senior partner was given much of the strike. Devillers was very aggressive yet sensible to take his side over the line.

Kochi, playing its first match in the IPL, were poor on the field as fielders fumbled in the deep and couldn’t hold to a couple of difficult catches which, if taken, could have made a difference.

Earlier, Kochi ,after winning the toss, were given a blazing start by the openers scoring 80 runs inside nine overs but couldn’t capitalize on the platform only to mange 161 runs in the end. It was Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori who bowled beautifully and tightly and was responsible in not letting Kochi to get away with it.

Brendon McCullum and VVS Laxman were in a dominating mood from the word with former taking some liking to Australian twenty-20 specialist looting 17 runs of his first over including two sixes.

While McCullum known for his hitting prowess was at his usual self, aggressive approach of Laxman surprised may a people as he innovated effectively to score at a brisk rate.

Laxman slog swept twice to get two sixes and hit two copybook style fours in his 29-ball 36 while McCullum butchered his way to 42 off 45 balls punctuated with four hits to the fence and two sixes.

Once both were dismissed runs were hard to come by as Vettori strangulated batsmen in the middle forcing them to do things differently. He got his opposite number Mahela Jayawardene by having making him to come out of the crease only to beat batsmen in the flight and have him stumped.

It was left to Brad Hodge and Ruvindu Jadeja to get the move who both played breezy innings to get score past 160-run mark. Hodge’s innings of 27 runs off 21 balls that was ended by Zaheer Khan’s yorker was then well backed by young Jadeja who used only 16 deliveries for his 23.

Vettori was the most frugal bowler on the display giving away only 19 runs in his four while Zaheer continued on his good form conceding only 28 runs of his four overs.