Gayle leads Bangalore chase with unbeaten 75
Published:Monday | May 23, 2011 | 12:00 AM
BANGALORE, India (AP):
Bangalore Royal Chal-lengers moved into the IPL play-offs as the No. 1 team, after winning by eight wickets over Chennai Super Kings, the defending champions who took second place following Kolkata Knight Riders' last-ball loss to Mumbai Indians yesterday.
West Indian opener Chris Gayle smashed 75 not out, containing six sixes and four boundaries in 50 balls, to guide Bangalore to 129-2 in 18 overs after Chennai were restricted to 128-8 on a lively pitch.
Bangalore play Chennai in the opening play-off match tomorrow.
In Kolkata, Mumbai won by five wickets after Ambati Rayudu hit a six off the final ball - by quick Lakshmipathy Balaji - with the team needing four to win. James Franklin hit the first four deliveries of the over for boundaries to set up the dramatic finish.
qualify
Chennai pipped Mumbai to second place due to having a better run rate. Kolkata finished fourth. The four teams qualify for the play-offs with a round to spare in the 10-team tournament.
"Gayle has been responsible for the turnaround, he has been outstanding,'' Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori said. "Our fielding and bowling has been good as well, especially Zaheer (Khan) today.''
Chennai collapsed to 22-4 after being put in to bat, with Indian paceman Zaheer dismissing in-form batsmen Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina for four runs each.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lashed a 40-ball 70 not out with six sixes and three fours, but Bangalore were always on top, taking wickets at regular intervals.
Dhoni smashed pacer Abhimanyu Mithun for two sixes and a four to lift the Super Kings' score in the final over.
South African batsman AB de Villiers fell to spinner Ravichan-dran Ashwin for nought, but Gayle and Kohli (31) put on 80 for the second wicket.
Gayle hit two sixes in one over off Australian left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger and reached his fifty with a boundary off West Indian allrounder Dwayne Bravo.
Gayle smashed spinner Raina for a six and a four to bring up the victory.