Former South African captain AB de Villiers outperformed countryman David Miller as the Royal Challengers Bangalore beat the Kings XI Punjab by 17 runs in Wednesday’s Indian Premier League clash in Bengaluru.
De Villiers’ 82 not out, which featured a trio of fours and all of seven sixes, spanned a mere 44 deliveries – and powered Bangalore to a final total of 202 for four.
He was well supported by homegrown opener Parthiv Patel and Australian recruit Marcus Stoinis, who struck 43 and 46 not out respectively.
The hard-hitting De Villiers was particularly severe on former Proteas fast bowler Hardus Viljoen, who endured expensive figures of one for 51 in four overs.
In reply, each of Punjab’s top five batsmen reached double figures, but none rose to De Villiers’ performance.
Miller showed similar spirit en route to 24 from 25, but then perished to one of three catches by De Villiers.
Indian seamer Umesh Yadav proved the pick of the bowlers, clinching three for 36 in four overs. Bangalore deployed seven bowlers to Punjab’s five – and the variation in pace and seam arguably proved the difference.
The result lifted the Royal Challengers from the foot of the 2019 tournament’s eight-team standings to seventh position, while the Kings XI remain in fifth.
Photo: SPORTZPICS for BCCI
