Bangalore knocked out of IPL

Deccan register shock nine-run win in their final group match.

Deccan Chargers finished their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign near the bottom of the table but a nine-run win in their last group match was enough to knock out Royal Challengers Bangalore as well.

Needing a win to qualify for the playoff stage of the tournament, Bangalore faltered in the chase and were restricted to 123 for nine in pursuit of a mediocre 133-run target.

The result came as a surprise after an impressive start that saw them reach 30 in the third over. However, the side lost the plot with Dale Steyn and Ashish Reddy equally sharing six wickets between them.

Virat Kohli made 42 – the highest score of the innings – and Saurabh Tiwary hit 30 but none of the other batsmen showed any resolve in the run-chase.

Earlier, JP Duminy showed character with a superb knock of 74 off just 53 deliveries. His innings enabled Deccan register somewhat a defendable total, which their bowlers were to show later on.

The South African international was the lone saviour for Deccan with the next highest individual score in the innings being 16 made by wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2012.