New Delhi: AB de Villiers announced himself by slamming a 46 ball 89 run innings to take Royal Challengers Bangalore to 148 for 4 against Kings XI Punjab in Indore.
De Villiers, who was included in the playing XI in the expense of Chris Gayle enhanced his reputation as a 360 degree player as he slammed 9 sixes with two of them landing outside the stadium.
RCB scored 68 runs in the last 4 overs courtesy a De Villiers’ special innings.
Despite fireworks from the former South African captain, RCB still struggled a lot as all the other batsman found it difficult to score on a pitch which is on the slower side.
Electing to bat, RCB were rocked early by Axar Patel, who bamboozled captain Shane Watson by cramping him for room in the very first over. Young Vishnu Vinod (7) soon crumbled under pressure.
Axar Patel was particularly good with his line and length and did not allow any freebies to the batsmen. The left-arm spinner returned with miserly figures of 12 for 1 in his 4 overs.
RCB lost their top 3 for only 22 on the board and the third to go was inform Kedar Jadhav (1). Varun Aaron (2/21) trapped him in front with a delivery that skidded off good length.
Mandeep Singh then got together with De Villers to stitch a 46 run partnership before being dismissed courtesy a blinder of a catch by Wridhhiman Saha.
Binny (18) continued the repair works with De Villiers. The swashbuckling right hander took Kings Xi bowling apart in the last 4 overs by displaying a range of strokes that is only possible by him.
Kings XI Punjab though would be confident of chasing down the target with the kind of batting line up they posses.