He took over second spot on the most-runs list with 597, trailing his teammate Virat Kohli, who scored 75 off 51 to soar to 752 runs this season. De Villiers also leads the six-pack with 32 maximum hits.

But those two were given a wonderfully solid platform by Chris Gayle, who smashed 49 off 31 in a first-wicket stand of 71 in 45 balls, chasing a challenging total of 184. Typically, 44 of Gayle’s runs came from nine shots: five fours and four sixes.

Earlier, the Riders could thank Andre Russell’s 36 off 19 balls (2×4, 3×6) for their challenging total of 183-5. Having been put in to bat, they did well to get 90-1 in the 11th over, at which point Gautam Gambhir was run out for 51. That started a collapse which saw another three wickets fall for 35 runs in five overs, including Gambhir’s partner ManishPandey, for 50.

At 125-5 in the 16th over, the Riders were losing their balance, but up stepped Russell, who found a solid partner in Shakhib al Hasan, whose 18 off 11 was a welcome boost. But it was nowhere enough once the Challengers’ top order got going.

This result lifted the Challengers’ late run at a play-off place.