IPL 2016: Kohli 54* powers RCB to playoffs
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli played another match-winning innings as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi Daredevils by six wickets to march into playoffs of the Indian Premier League season nine in Raipur on Sunday. The victory, their fourth in a row, also took RCB to the second in the standings and avoided the Eliminator in the next stage.
After bowlers limited Delhi to a modest total of 138/8, Kohli carried his bat through the innings and scored atypical unbeaten 54 off 45 balls, hitting six fours, to complete the chase with 11 balls to spare. In the process, Kohli also crossed 900-run mark and now has 919 runs from 14 innings. Lokesh Rahul contributed a brisk 38 off 23 balls, which included a six and four boundaries, and added 66 for the third wicket with Kohli to steady the chase after they lost two wickets early in their innings.
RCB lost in-form Chris Gayle to Chris Morris, who struck with his first ball of the innings, in the second over. Delhi skipper Zaheer Khan then increased Delhi’s hopes further by dismissing AB de Villiers in the third over, with Jayant Yadav taking a brilliant catch diving forward at cover-point. RCB were struggling at 17/2 in 2.4 overs, but they had Kohli standing tall at the other end.