King Kallis keeps Bangalore IPL hopes alive
Jacques Kallis struck an unbeaten 58 and took a key wicket as Royal
Challengers Bangalore beat leaders Delhi Daredevils by seven wickets
Tuesday to stay in the Indian Premier League title hunt.
The big South African batted throughout the 19-over Bangalore innings
as they reached 135-3 in reply to 134-7 in 20 overs from Delhi, who are
sure to finish first with one round of group fixtures left.
But below them the stage is set for a thrilling climax to the
round-robin phase of the Twenty20 extravaganza on Wednesday and Thursday
with five franchises chasing three semi-finals places.
Chennai Super Kings have 15 points, Deccan Chargers, Bangalore and
Kings XI Punjab 14 each and defending champions Rajasthan Royals 13 with
double-headers to come in Durban and Centurion.
While many in the team dug-outs at the Wanderers used blankets to
fend off the autumn chill, a good crowd turned up at one of the homes of
South African cricket and were treated to a tense struggle until the
final few overs.
Winning skipper and India legend Anil Kumble claimed he is not even
checking the standings traffic-jam, but concentrating on masterminding
another win when they face Deccan Thursday. “I’m taking this tournament
one game at a time and not looking at the table. All I’m thinking about
is how to win the next match which would guarantee us a place in the
semi-finals.”
Kallis said his role was critical: “In big games senior players must
come through and I knew that someone had to stay at the crease for the
innings. After a run of four losses, the hunger for success is back in
the team.”
Delhi captain Virender Sehwag offered no excuses after only their
fourth loss in 13 outings: “Perhaps the boys were a little relaxed
knowing that we were through, but there is nothing for us to worry
about.” Bangalore made a dream start as Praveen Kumar dismissed Sehwag
and Mithun Manhas for ducks within five balls and Kallis took the wicket
of opener Gautam Gambhir (27 runs) to leave Delhi struggling on 37-3
after six overs.
Wicketkeeper Dinish Karthik (31) and South African AB de Villiers
(28) were the highest Delhi scorers while Kumar (3-30) and Kumble (2-24)
impressed with the ball for Bangalore. Challengers also began poorly
with Robin Uthappa departing in the first over for one and while Kallis
and Rahul Dravid steadied the innings, the runs came slowly with
Bangalore making only 54-1 by the 10-over ‘strategy time out’.
Dravid went for 38, but a quickfire 25 from New Zealander Ross Taylor
gave momentum to the run chase and by the time two-sixes Kallis reached
his fourth IPL half century in the 18th over, the outcome was
inevitable. JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday, AFP
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