Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a half century during match 57 of of the Pepsi Indian Premier League between Delhi Daredevils and the Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli smashed a 58-ball 99 before Jaydev Unadkat picked up a five-wicket haul to guide Royal Challengers Bangalore to a narrow four-run win over Delhi Daredevils in New Delhi on Friday, and enhance their chances of qualifying for the play-offs of the Pepsi Indian Premier League.
Kohli, who got two reprieves during his sensational knock, along with with A B de Villiers put on 94 runs off just 40 balls for the fourth wicket to power RCB to 183 for four at the Feroz Shah Kotla.
Left-arm pacer Unadkat then picked up five wickets for 25 runs to help RCB restrict Delhi to 179 for six.
Chasing an imposing target, Delhi lost their openers -Mahela Jayawardene and Virender Sehwag — inside the 50-run
mark.
Both Jaywardene and Sehwag fell to Unadkat.
While Jayawardene (19 off 13) played on to his stumps in the fourth over, Sehwag (18 off 10) was foxed by a slower delivery as he spooned one straight to Cheteshwar Pujara at mid-on.
To add to Delhi’s woes, stand-in skipper David Warner too failed to make an impact. He was bowled by a quicker delivery from Moises Henriques.
RCB skipper Kohli’s decision to introduce Jamaluddin Syed Mohhamd backfired as the left-arm spinner went for four boundaries -– one by Unmukt Chand and three by Ben Rohrer – to concede 20 runs off the ninth over.
Chand and Rohrer played sensibly to take Delhi past the 100-run mark inside the 12th over.
Just when the duo of Chand and Rohrer (32 off 27) were looking dangerous, the later departed inside edging a R Vinay Kumar delivery on to his stumps. The fourth wicket partnership of Chand and Rohrer yielded 58 runs off 44 balls.
The asking rate took a toll on Chand too as he also departed soon, caught by Vinay Kumar off Unadkat. He scored 41 off 35 balls with the help of four fours and a six.
