Dinesh Karthik Shines as RCB Enter IPL top 4
Dinesh Karthik hit an unbeaten 66 to help Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Delhi Capitals by 16 runs on Saturday.
Karthik’s 34-ball knock helped Bangalore reach 189/5 following Glenn Maxwell’s breezy 55 in the day’s second match in Mumbai.
Despite David Warner’s 38-ball 66, Delhi could only manage 173-7.
With Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed on 97 runs for the sixth wicket, Bangalore piled on 69 runs in the last four overs.
He took advantage of a lost catch on five to smash Mustafizur Rahman for four fours and two sixes in a 28-run 18th over.
Before Maxwell unleashed his might, Bangalore lost their big guns, including captain Faf du Plessis for eight and Kohli for 12.
The Australia batsman, dubbed ‘Big Show’ for his flashy strokeplay, scored 23 runs off left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in one over.
After Warner left, Delhi stumbled and Australian quick bowler Josh Hazlewood struck twice in one over, dismissing big-hitter Rovman Powell for nought.
With his 17-ball 34, Rishabh Pant became Mohammed Siraj’s second wicket as Virat Kohli dived to grab a superb one-handed catch at cover.
Ahead of the Gujarat Titans, Bangalore moved up to third.
In the opening game of the day, KL Rahul hit an undefeated 103 as the Lucknow Super Giants lost their sixth consecutive match.
