IPL 9, RCB vs GL, as it happened: Kohli-De Villiers show helps RCB floors Lions

Royal Challengers Bangalore win by 144 runs

The game was killed as a contest by the De Villiers-Kohli partnership that saw RCB post a mammoth 248. But what’s key for Virat Kohli and co. is the margin of the win that boosts their chances to qualify for the play-offs. Gujarat Lions would be disappointed to have suffered the biggest loss in IPL history, but they couldn’t do much apart from watch and admire two of the finest innings in Twenty 20 cricket.

OUT! S Kaushik c Aravind b Sachin Baby 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Its all over. Aravind cleans up Gujarat Lions innings

OUT! AJ Finch c Aravind b Sachin Baby 37 (38b 3×4 1×6)

Finch departs trying to reduce the margin of defeat

After 14 overs,Gujarat Lions 87/8 ( Aaron Finch 28 , Pravin Tambe 2)

Gujarat Lions need to score 22 more runs to avoid the heaviest defeat in the history of the IPL. The biggest defeat was suffered by the Royal Challngers Bangalore against the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008. That was the first ever IPL game

OUT! D Kulkarni b Jordan 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Jordan is on fire as he picks up his fourth wicket. Kulkarni doesn’t read the off-cutter as he drags the ball onto the stumps

TWO WICKETS in quick succession! Chahal cleaned up Nath, before Jordan bowled Praveen Kumar. Gujarat Lions 71 runs for the loss of 7 wickets

After 10 overs,Gujarat Lions 54/5 ( Aaron Finch 6 , Akshdeep Nath 2)

Going through the motions. The result was long gone decided. However credit must go to the RCB bowlers for applying themselves on the wicket

OUT! DJ Bravo lbw b Chahal 1 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Bravo is caught plum in front by Chahal. Gujarat Lions are struggling

Quick wickets! Jordan picks up two in two. First Dinesh Karthik who is caught at long-off, before Ravindra Jadeja is out caught and bold. Gujarat Lions are 44 for the loss of 4 wickets

After 6 overs,Gujarat Lions 41/2 ( Ravindra Jadeja 20 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 1)

The result is pretty much out of the equation now, but the Gujarat Lions must keep up the fight to limit the damage to their net run-rate.

OUT! B McCullum c de Villiers b Chahal 11 (13b 2×4 0x6)

McCullum is caught at long-off trying to clear the boundary. RCB strike just when the Gujarat Lions were trying to get a move on

After 3 overs,Gujarat Lions 15/1 ( Brendon McCullum (C) 7 , Ravindra Jadeja 1)

Just the start RCB would have wanted to kill any chances of the unthinkable from the Gujarat Lions. Aravind has been bowling well and has continued his good work here in Bengaluru. Gujarat Lions would be looking to reduce the margin of defeat as the race for the IPL spots get tighter

OUT! D Smith b Aravind 7 (6b 1×4 0x6)

Aravind strikes early for RCB. The ball kept low as Smith’s defense was breached. Exactly what the Gujarat Lions didn’t want at the start of their innings

Back for the chase. Smith and McCullum are the openers. Binny to start off. #RCBvGL

112 runs scored in last 5 overs by #RCB, maximum in history of IPL#RCBvGL #IPL

— Deepak Sharma (@deepakbhlscr) May 14, 2016

After 20 overs, Bangalore 248/3 ( AB de Villiers 129 *)

The carnage is over. Lions have been blown away. Kohli and de Viliers lay into Bravo in the 18th over. Kohli thumps one through covers for a four and then lofts it over the same region for an even better shot for six. De Villiers then joins the party for a couple of sixes to end the over. Kaushik then faces the wrath as the two hammer 30 runs off it. Kohli cracks four sixes and a four. And then takes a couple off the last ball. He then gets to his century in style with a six straight down the ground and then pulls the next one over deep square leg for another one. Praveen Kumar finally, finally lets Lions breathe as he removes Kohli and Watson off the last two balls of the innings. 75 runs off the last 3 overs. 112/2 off the last 5.

CENTURY for Kohli! He brings it up in style with a six straight back over Praveen Kumar’s head. He becomes the first player to score 3 tons in one IPL season. Five fours and seven sixes in his innings so far. This is absolute madness.

Okay, now I am beginning to feel sorry for the guys who have to bowl to these two. I wonder if GL provides PTSD insurance?

— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) May 14, 2016

Fastest 100s in IPL:
30 Gayle vs PWI
37 Pathan vs RR
38 Miller vs RCB
42 Gilchrist vs MI
43 ABD v GL today#RCBvGL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 14, 2016

After 17 overs,Bangalore 173/1 ( Virat Kohli 52 , AB de Villiers 112)

Bravo comes back to calm things down as he gives away just 7 runs but then De Villiers starts the party as he slog sweeps one off Tambe for six over mid-wicket and then lofts one over point for an incredibly placed four. He then lays into Praveen Kumar and smashes him for three sixes and a four before taking a single to bring up his century. Praveen conceded 23 runs in the over. De Villiers then took on Jadeja and hammered him over deep mid-wicket and cover for a couple of sixes. 58 runs off the last 4 overs.

CENTURY for ABD! His 3rd one in the IPL. He brings it up off just 43 balls. What an innings. The fifth fastest in history of IPL.  Nine fours and eight sixes in his innings so far.

Tambe bowler that from a metre or so behind the crease and ABDV didn’t seem to notice as he hit his six.

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) May 14, 2016

FIFTY for Kohli. He brings it up off 39 balls. 3 fours and one six in his innings so far. He’s played a second fiddle to De Villiers so far.

Most IPL runs by foreigners:

C Gayle 3218
AB DE VILLIERS 3042
D Warner 3040
S Watson 2524
J Kallis 2427#RCBvGL @RCBTweets

— Nikhil Mane 🏏🇦🇺 (@nikhiltait) May 14, 2016

Kulkarni conceded 22 runs in the 12th over - his second-most expensive over in T20 career. #RCBvGL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 14, 2016

After 13 overs, Bangalore 115/1 ( Virat Kohli 44 , AB de Villiers 63)

RCB have upped the ante big time now. Kohli starts off with a four through covers off Smith and then De Villiers hammers one over wide long off for four in the same over. Kohli and de Villiers then take on Kulkarni for 22 runs as they hammers two sixes and two fours in between them. De Villiers brings up his fifty and then continues the momentum in the next over as he cracks one through covers off Jadeja for four and then slog sweeps the next one over deep mid-wicket for a six. 52 runs off the last 4 overs.

de Villiers has scored in every sector of the wagon wheel except through fine leg. #IPL #RCBvGL #RCB #GL

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) May 14, 2016

FIFTY for de Villiers! 6 4 4 – He brings it up in style with a spanking shot through point.  Six fours and three sixes in his innings so far.

After 9 overs, Bangalore 63/1 ( Virat Kohli 24 , AB de Villiers 31)

Lions have pulled it back a bit. Just one four in the last three overs. AB smashed a slower delivery over wide mid off for four off Bravo. There were a couple of heart in mouth moments for De Villiers as he survived a stumping and a run out appeal. He was survived by a whisker on both the occasions. 21 runs off the last 3 overs.

AB de Villiers becomes 3rd overseas player after Gayle and Warner to complete 3000 IPL runs. 9th batsman overall. #RCBvGL

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 14, 2016

Limitations in the #GujaratLions attack being shown up already. Is this the @ABdeVilliers17 day we've been waiting for?

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 14, 2016

After 6 overs, Bangalore 42/1 ( Virat Kohli (C) 18 , AB de Villiers 16)

Lions might have sent back Gayle in the hut but De Villiers is looking dangerous. He at first smashes a Kaushik half-tracker over wide long off for six, then takes on Tambe by driving him through covers and then slog-sweeping the next ball over long leg for six. In between Kohli crashes a half-tracker from Kaushik through covers for four. 32 runs and one wicket off the last 3 overs.

Gayle gone. 8th consecutive single-digit score since his 100* vs Eng. Never got more than 3 single-digit scores in a row in T20s before.

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 14, 2016

And that is that. RCB needs to face facts: a guy who *might* hit a six once in 10 games is best left in the hut. No matter what his name is

— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) May 14, 2016

OUT! Gayle chops it on. C Gayle b Kulkarni 6 (13b 1×4 0x6)

Good length delivery outside off, nips away a tad. Gayle looks to cut close to his body but ends up getting an inside edge onto the stumps. Kulkarni at first shapes up in disappointment but then realises that the leg bail is off and starts celebrating.

AB de Villiers is the new batsman.

If Gayle continues to play for his place in the Test team, Kohli will be forced to do idiot things.

— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) May 14, 2016

After 3 overs, Bangalore 10/0 ( Chris Gayle 2 , Virat Kohli 7)

RCB have got off to a cautious start. Gayle has been kept quiet. Praveen Kumar found some swing in the first over and bowled a maiden giving away just a leg bye. Dhawal Kulkarni then bowled tight lines and gave away just two runs. Kohli then releases some pressure as he smashes one through backward point for four. Praveen, however, hits back beating Kohli and Gayle’s outside edge in the same over.

Right! Gayle and Kohli walk out to the middle. Praveen Kumar to start off proceedings.

Ravindra Jadeja at No.3 in Twenty20s:
Inns - 3
Runs - 70
NOs - 1
Avg - 35
S/R - 152.17
HS - 28#IPL #RCBvGL

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) May 14, 2016

Ravindra Jadeja has confirmed that he will bat at No. 3.

You rate Raina or not doesn't matter, bt without him #GL batting is looking weak. If openers flop, they'll struggle to get anything over 150

— P₹akash $inha 🇮🇳 (@Predicto_Praky) May 14, 2016

GL XI: DR Smith, B McCullum, R Jadeja, D Karthik, A Finch, A Nath, DJ Bravo, P Kumar, D Kulkarni, S Kaushik, P Tambe

RCB XI: Gayle, Rahul, Kohli, AB de Villiers, Watson, Baby, Binny, Jordan, Aravind, Aaron, Chahal

TOSS – Gujarat Lions have won the toss and elected to bowl.

Brendon McCullum is is leading Gujarat Lions, he’s come out for the toss. Suresh Raina – after 143 games – misses his first ever IPL match.

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Lions. Match starts at 4 PM IST. Follow this space for live scores and updates.