Kings XI gets Royal thrashing

Indore, May 15

Royal Challengers Bangalore produced a dominating performance to outclass Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets and stay afloat in the Indian Premier League here on Monday. After bundling out Kings XI for a paltry 88, RCB chased down the target with consummate ease, reaching 92 for no loss in 8.1 overs. Skipper Virat Kohli led from the front with the bat with an unbeaten 48, while Parthiv Patel made unbeaten 40 to help RCB romp home. Kohli struck six fours and two towering sixes in his 28-ball knock, while Patel’s innings was laced with seven boundaries.
While Kings XI slumped to their third successive loss, RCB improved upon their net run rate by sealing the victory in 8.1 overs. RCB now have 10 points from 12 games, same as Kings XI with two games remaining for the both teams.
Earlier, Kings XI wilted under pressure as the spirited RCB attack ran through their batting line-up in the must-win match. Sent in to bat, the Kings XI innings never got going as wickets kept falling at regular intervals and eventually they were bowled out in just 15.1 overs. Backed by some good fielding, Umesh Yadav (3/23) came up with an impressive bowling effort upfront to destabilise the Kings’ innings.
Rahul gave Kings XI a brisk start with a 15-ball 21 in the company of Chris Gayle (18) before Yadav struck a twin blow in the fifth over, dismissing both the openers. Rahul pulled one straight to Colin de Grandhomme a deep square leg, and three balls later Gayle departed in similar fashion, caught by Mohammed Siraj. To make matters worse for Kings XI, Karun Nair edged a delivery straight to RCB skipper Kohli at the lone slip in the next over. Wickets kept on tumbling for Kings XI as Marcus Stoinis and Mayank Agarwal too perished quickly when their team needed them the most. While Stoinis was cleaned up by Chahal, Agarwal got a faint edge off a de Grandhomme delivery and Patel did the rest behind the stumps. From there on, Kings XI never really recovered and were eventually bundled out for the second-lowest total this year.