AB, Kohli get RCB back on winning trail
The Royal Challengers Bangalore returned to winning ways in the Indian Premier League when they beat the Rising Pune Supergiants by 13 runs on Friday in a closely fought contest.
The Royal Challengers, thanks to AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli who struck half-centuries, set Pune a target of 186 but the home side came up just short in the end.
Opening batsman Ajinkya Rahane scored 60 for Pune but the experienced batsmen in the side flopped with Faf du Plessis (2) and Steve Smith (4) falling cheaply while Kevin Pietersen retired hurt when he was yet to score.
Captain MS Dhoni (41) and Rahane got the innings back on track with a partnership of 91 but both Indian players fell just as they were set to launch towards the end.
Sri Lanka allrounder Thisara Perera (34 off 13 balls) and Rhajat Batia (21 from 11 balls) kept their side in the game but Kane Richardson closed it out for the Royal Challengers with two wickets in the final over as the hosts finished on 172 for eight.
Richardson finished with figures of three for 13 in three overs while fellow Australian Shane Watson took two for 31 from his four overs.
Earlier, the Bangalore batting innings was once again the Kohli-De Villiers show as the two modern-day greats put on 155 for the second wicket and batted almost batted the entire innings.
De Villiers top-scored with 83 from 46 balls while Kohli scored 80 off 60 balls after the early loss of Lokesh Rahul (7) in the fourth over to set up a total of 185 for three.
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