• Faf’s Bangalore add to Delhi’s woes

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    The Delhi Capitals fell to their fifth loss in this IPL after a 23-run defeat at the hands of a Faf du Plessis-captained Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.

    Kohli smashed 50 to guide hosts Bangalore to 174-6, a total their bowlers defended by restricting Delhi to 151-9 in the first match of the day.

    The in-form Virat Kohli struck his third half-century of the season before other Bangalore batsmen including Du Plessis (22), Mahipal Lomror (26), Glenn Maxwell (24) and Shahbaz Ahmed (20*) boosted the total.

    Debutant and local boy Vijaykumar Vyshak returned figures of 3-20 to lead the bowling charge. Pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj took two wickets.

    David Warner’s Delhi remain winless, and bottom of the 10-team table.

    But the captain saw glimmers of hope in the performance.

    “The positives were great … with the bowling and the fielding were exceptional. I said to the guys that their energy and attitude were absolutely amazing,” Warner said after the loss.

    “It’s just our batting. We need to work out how to take on the powerplay and not lose early wickets.”

    The left-handed Australia opener said: “Things aren’t working at the moment but teams have come back from five-nothing, so hopefully we can be that second team.”

    Delhi were never in the chase, losing regular wickets. Even Warner, who has scored 228 runs with three half-centuries but has struggled with his strike rate, got out for 19.

    Manish Pandey made 50, but the rest of the batting fell apart.

    Delhi had their moments in the match after the returning Mitchell Marsh struck first with the wicket of Du Plessis and later cut short the left-handed Lomror’s attacking stay.

    Marsh, who returned from Australia after getting married, posted 2-18.

    Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav also took two wickets, but Bangalore scored enough for their second victory in four matches.

    Kohli smashed six fours and one six in his 34-ball knock as he put on key partnerships including an opening stand of 42 with Du Plessis.

    © Agence France-Presse

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    Simon Borchardt