RCB vs KXIP, IPL 2016 Results, Match Highlights & Updated Points Table

It was the 50th game of the IPL and Royal Challengers Bangalore played home to Kings XI Punjab. It was a hugely crucial game for RCB as they had to win both of their remaining matches to claim a spot in the top four on the points table. KXIP, on the other hand, were already out of contention for a playoff spot and could only become party spoilers for RCB.

Last time when these two teams met in the league, RCB clinched a thriller by just 1 run. They had scored 175/6 in their 20 overs due to AB de Villiers’s cracking knock of 64 runs off just 35 balls. KXIP then almost pulled off a victory but lost by the narrowest margin. Murali Vijay played a sublime innings of 89 runs off 57 balls but got out at the wrong time and the team failed to win from a good position.

RCB have had back to back dominant victories which have boosted the net run rate. If it comes down to that, they will be in the advantage. Kohli and AB have been giving treats to the cricket fans by sharing incredible partnerships. With Gayle back in form in the last game, they would be looking for a big win against KXIP too. They needed to beat KXIP as well as DD in the next game to strengthen their chance to make it to the playoffs.

Heavy rain delayed toss

A massive rain was predicted at Bangalore which indeed turned out to be true. It was absolutely bucketing down at Chinnaswamy when the toss was supposed to take place and there were huge chances of the game being washed out. The ground though had a very good drainage system and it would take around 45 minutes to prepare the ground for a game. But much to the delight of the crowd, the rain relented and the game was to be started. The match was reduced to 15 overs a side.

KXIP won the toss and elected to field first

Playing XIs:

Kings XI Punjab:

Hashim Amla, Murali Vijay(c), Wriddhiman Saha(wk), David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Kyle Abbott, Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, KC Cariappa

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Lokesh Rahul(wk), Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Chris Jordan, Varun Aaron, Sreenath Aravind, Yuzvendra Chahal

Fiery start for RCB

Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli started steadily and took the score to 17 after 3 overs. But then, Gayle went after Kyle Abbott in the 4th over. He smashed him for 2 sixes and a four to collect 18 runs off the over. The next over bowled by KC Cariappa also went for 18 runs. First Gayle hit him for a six and a four and then Kohli sent him out the park. The score raced off to 53 after 5 overs.

Carnage at Chinnaswamy

Both batsmen went absolutely berserk and went after each bowler. The next 5 overs yielded 10, 19, 11, 18 and 18. A total of 76 runs were scored between 6-10 overs. Both brought up their half centuries in the 9th over and the hundred partnership was also reached in the same over. KXIP bowlers were clueless against the two giants as the score read 129/0 at the end of 10 overs.

Kohli’s 4th hundred powered RCB past 200

Kohli was absolutely unstoppable yet again as he brought up his 4th century in the season and became the only player to do so. He reached the hundred off 43 balls in the 14th over and was magical once again. He hit 12 fours and 8 sixes in the innings. He got out in the hunt for quick runs at the end for 113 off just 50 balls.

Earlier, Gayle was dismissed for 73 runs off 32 balls by Axar Patel. He shared a partnership of 147 runs with Kohli for the first wicket. AB couldn’t open his account and Abbott accounted for his wicket. Some cheeky shots from KL Rahul took RCB to 211/3 at the end of 15 overs.

Once again, Kohli was brilliant and proved why he is considered the best batsman of modern times. His tally of runs in the league reached 865, way above the rest. What made this innings even more special was the fact that he had an injury in his left hand and was carrying 8 stitches. He literally scored all these runs with just one hand. KXIP had to bat out of their skins to get anywhere close to 212 in 15 overs.

KXIP lost early wickets in search of quick runs

Murali Vijay came in with only one intention to score boundaries right from the first ball. He struck 2 fours off the first 2 balls in the first over. He then hit a six in the next over but got out bowled soon off an inside edge off Aravind. Saha then smashed 5 fours within six balls but was trapped in front of the wickets next by Chahal. Amla too followed him soon when Aravind got him out caught at mid-off. KXIP were reeling at 54/3 after 5 overs.

Wickets continued to tumble

With such a huge score on the board and a poor start with the bat, the middle order was bound to suffer. Watson got his first wicket when he sent Miller back for 3 runs. Axar was soon dismissed and gave Watson his second wicket. Behardien and Abbott became the second and the third victims of Chahal in the 9th over. The job for bowlers was becoming like a walk in the park. With 5 overs to go, RCB had left KXIB suffering at 90/7.

Clinical RCB blew KXIP away

Chahal went on to bag his fourth wicket when he dismissed Gurkeerat for 18. Mohit Sharma was run out for 14. Just when the 14th over finished and the score reached 120/9, it started raining again. The play was called off immediately and RCB were declared the winners.

It was always going to tough for the batsmen chasing over 14 an over from the first over. They crumbled under the scoreboard pressure and the RCB bowler enjoyed a nice and pleasant outing. The game belonged to Virat Kohli and his magical knock. He again led from the front despite the injury and kept the hopes alive for RCB. With this win, RCB moved to number 2 on the points table.

Match Result:

RCB 211/3 (15 overs) Kohli 113, Gayle 73, Sandeep 29/1

KXIP 120/9 (14 overs) Saha 24, Chahal 25/4, Watson 7/2

RCB won by 82 runs (D/L method)

MOM: Virat Kohli

IPL 2016 Points Table and Standings

Position	Team	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Net RR	Points
1	SRH	12	8	4	0	0	+0.400	16
2	RCB	13	7	6	0	0	+0.926	14
3	KKR	12	7	5	0	0	+0.280	14
4	MI	13	7	6	0	0	-0.082	14
5	GL	12	7	5	0	0	-0.747	14
6	DD	12	6	6	0	0	-0.125	12
7	RPS	13	4	9	0	0	+0.013	8
8	KXIP	13	4	9	0	0	-0.695	8

IPL 2016 Schedule

Date	Time (BST/IST)	Fixture	Venue
May 19	8:00 PM	Gujarat Lions v/s Kolkata Knight Riders	Kanpur
May 20	8:00 PM	Delhi Daredevils v/s Sunrisers Hyderabad	Raipur
May 21	4:00 PM	Rising Pune Supergiants v/s Kings XI Punjab	Visakhapatnam
May 21	8:00 PM	Gujarat Lions v/s Mumbai Indians	Kanpur