Three down Chennai need 23 in 20

Published>Thu, Apr 01 10 01:45 PM

Chennai, March 31 -- With England's hard-hitters Kevin Pietersen and Cameroon White back in the squad, the Royal Challengers Bangalore chose to bat against the Chennai Super Kings in their seventh match in Chennai. With the help of another half century by Jacques Kallis, the visiting team put up a decent 161 for 4 wickets in 20 overs. Though the host team's effort on the field was not too laudable, their bowelers maintained a steady line and length to restrict run-flow of the maruading Challengers in the last five overs. Uthappa, who was dropped on 0, scored 21 off 13 balls, while Virat Kohli scored a quickfire 34. Pietersen too got the feel of the pitch in the last few overs and added 23 runs to the Bangalore's total. For the hosts, Sadab Jakati picked up two wickets giving away just 17 runs in his stipulated 4 overs. Though Muttiah Muralitharan failed to pick up a wicket, he kept the scoring down with his economical bowling. Jacques Kallis struck a 49-ball 52 to help Royal Challengers Bangalore post a competitive 161 for four against Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League match here today. Kallis, who struck seven fours during his innings, got good support from Virat Kohli (34 off 24) as the duo added 63 runs for the third wicket before the latter fell to Chennai spinner Shadab Jakati in the 16th over. Kohli cracked three fours and a huge six during his stay in the middle. Englishman Kevin Pietersen (32 not out off 14 balls) and Australian Cameron White (21 not out off 13 balls) - both playing their first IPL III matches - were the other main contributors. Opting to bat first at M Chidambaram Stadium, Bangalore suffered an early loss in the third over when opener Manish Pandey (5) fell prey to paceman Thilan Thushara. Despite the early blow, the visitors maintained a good run rate thanks to a quick 42-run second-wicket partnership between Kallis and Robin Uthappa, who made 21 off just 13 balls with the help of two sixes and a four. Jakati struck in the seventh over for his first wicket removing a dangerous looking Uthappa, following which Kohli paired up with Kallis. Kallis and Kohli played sensible cricket finding the gaps for one and twos while hitting the loose deliveries for boundaries. After the fall of Kallis and Kohli, Englishman Kevin Pietersen and Cameron White - both playing their first IPL III matches - carried the tempo till the end of the innings.

For Chennai, Jakati took two wickets giving away 17 runs while Thushara scalped one for 30.

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