South African David Miller smashed a game-swinging century off just 38 balls and rescued the fast sinking Punjab Kings XI innings, easing them to victory over the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore, chasing a target of 191 with two overs to spare, in their Indian Premier League match played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh yesterday.
Miller, coming in with the score on 51 for 3, was given a reprieve on 41, which he scored off 21 balls, when Bangalore captain Virat Kohli dropped him and, taking full advantage of that, plundered 25 runs off RP Singh in the following over, and setting Kings XI on track for a sensational comeback. He scored 34 off the next 10 balls he faced as he brought up his century, and the winning runs with a six straight.
Rajagopal Sathish scored an invaluable 27 off just 18 balls to compliment Miller’s excellent knock.
It was a night to forget for RCB’s bowlers who, bar Ravi
Rampaul, were expensive, conceding atleast eight runs an over – Murali Karthik picking up 2 for 24 in three overs.
Earlier, Chris Gayle and Cheteshwar Pujara gave the Royal Challengers the best possible start with 102-run partnership off just 11.2 overs, before Gayle was bowled by Manpreet Gony for 61. Gony claimed the wicket of Pujara three overs later, but despite the two wickets conceded 41 runs.
South African Michael Neser was given a harsh welcome to the IPL as he was hammered for 62 off his four wicket-less overs, Parvinder Awana picking up the only other wicket, that of Virat Kohli for a run-a-ball 14.
Moises Henriques and AB de Villiers then added more misery as they scored 46 off 19 balls to end RCB’s innings on 190, but all these contributions would prove insufficient with Miller’s heroics later on.
