The unsafe Dwayne Smith and Suresh Raina fell prey to Chahal early in the innings and RCB inched closer to a win when the 26-year-old took the all-important wicket of Brendon McCullum.
Set an improbable 214 to win, Gujarat's reply got off to the worst possible start when Dwayne Smith was caught by Mandeep Singh off the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal for one in the first over.
The 101-Test New Zealander has hit the most sixes in the competition to date, with 15 to second-placed South African AB de Villiers' 11 (Bangalore). At the end of the day, they have actually played a part in this 10,000 runs as well.
Sensing the danger, Gujarat skipper Suresh Raina threw the ball to his most economical bowler Thampi and the Kerala pacer delivered on the third ball of his new spell.
Australia to raise English language standard for citizenship
The 457 visa in Australia was expected to bolster the country's economy by enlisting foreign workers to fill skill shortages. There's to be new labour market testing as well as English and work experience requirements.
Thereafter, young Ishan Kishan and Jadeja added 27 runs for the sixth wicket before a mix-up landed both the batsmen at the non-striker's end, ruling the local lad out for a 22-ball 23.
The veteran left-hander, who has not played for West Indies in 12 months, hit a sparkling 38-ball 77 - his first half-century in 17 T20 innings - as RCB, sent in at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, raced to 213 for two off their 20 overs. Kohli led the way early, on a sluggish Rajkot surface, and smashed five fours from the first three overs. By Gayle's own admission, the fact that he was only three runs short of becoming the first man to reach 10000 runs in the T20 format was on the back of his mind and he managed to get rid of it in the fourth over of the innings. Even playing for West Indies as well. Gayle got to his fifty off just 23 deliveries, with a big six off Shivil Kaushik over long on. It ultimately turned out to be the final six of a Ravindra Jadeja over in which the left-arm spinner ended up being thrashed for 4,4,6 and 6 off his final four balls by the Gayle. But replays showed the brim of McCullum's hat skimming the boundary rope giving Gayle a fresh lease of life. We (Gayle and Kohli) have had several hundred-run partnerships, which is really great.
Newman Travis Head (30) then sent the last ball for another maximum over deep midwicket.
Kohli went on to make 64 off 50 deliveries, which included seven boundaries and a six, before he was dismissed by Dhawal Kulkarni. RCB moved from the bottom of the table to sixth place and now have four points from their six games, which include two wins and four losses.
Comments