Virat Kohli's excellent late cameo was in vain for Bangalore as they slipped to a two-run loss to Mumbai in the battle of the Indian Premier League at the Champions League Twenty20 in Durban.

The India batsman, whose side looked to be heading for defeat until he joined Rahul Dravid (71 not out) in the middle, blasted 47 from just 30 balls to take the game right down to the wire as the Royal Challengers tried to chase down 166.

That target came after Mumbai also relied on powerful lower-order hitting, this time from Saurabh Tiwary (38 not out) and Dwayne Bravo (29), to help boost their total.

And it proved a match-winning one, which helped keep the slim semi-final hopes of the IPL runners-up alive.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sachin Tendulkar (11), Ambati Rayudu (three) and JP Duminy (10) all struggled to get going and eventually fell cheaply leaving their team in big trouble at 51 for three after 8.2 overs.

The damage was all done without Bangalore spearhead Dale Steyn (three for 26), who skipper Anil Kumble had cleverly held back in a bid to try and derail the in-form Kieron Pollard.

His plan seemed to work to perfection when he brought the South Africa paceman on to bowl in the 11th over when he went for just four and then made the big-hitting West Indian one of two wickets in his next over.

It left Mumbai on 84 for five with seven overs to go and they then smashed 81 to set a 166 victory target.

Bangalore began the response in solid fashion with Jacques Kallis (15) and Dravid putting on 41 for the first wicket.

But the removal of the veteran all-rounder, followed by the quick dismissals of Robin Uthappa (six) and Ross Taylor (nine), both by Bravo (two for 23), jolted the chase.

Dravid, though, remained composed bringing up his 50 from 39 balls leaving Bangalore needing 78 from the last 12 overs.

Another one of his partners, Australian Cameron White (seven), also fell, but Kohli's innings left them needing three from the last ball, but he top-edged to Zaheer Khan ending a thrilling encounter.