Pietersen powers Bangalore to huge win by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Scorecard:	Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Player:	AC Voges, KP Pietersen, RV Uthappa
Event:	Indian Premier League 2009/10

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DateLine: 14th April 2010

 

Royal Challengers Bangalore showcased a clinical performance as they humbled Rajasthan Royals in their own bastion. The hero for the visitors was Kevin Pietersen as he slammed a quick-fire fifty to take his team closer to the semi-final spot.

 

Shane Warne won the toss and elected to bat first even though it was assumed that dew would play its part in the second half of the match. Shane Warne must have believed that his top-order would do the job but what awaited him was something unexpected. The openers never adjusted to the slowness of the track as the Bangalore bowlers very cleverly took the pace of the ball. Finally Lumb (9, 8b, 1x4) fell due to poor communication while debutant Paunikar(0, 1b) fell for a first-ball duck, edging an attempted hook to the keeper. Naman Ojha (7, 9b, 1x4) heaved a back-of-length delivery from outside off to mid-on and soon Rajasthan were placed at 21 for 3 in 3.2 overs.

 

Shane Watson (22, 25b, 3x4) and Jhunjhunwala (13, 22b, 1x4) tried to repair the innings but never found any sort of momentum. Watson fell as he tried to up the ante while Jhunjhunwala was undone by a sharp bouncer from Pankaj Singh. Yusuf Pathan (11, 9b, 2x4) never looked in any sort of comfort as he was barraged with some accurate short-pitch stuff from the pacemen before a full length from Steyn consumed him. Struggling at 72 for 6, Voges (28 not out, 27b, 3x4) and Raut (32, 20b, 1x6, 3x4) ensured that they posted 130 in their 20 overs.

 

The Bangalore side in reply did not have any issue in chasing down the target. Though Kamran Khan gave the hosts a glimmer of hope by removing Kallis (0, 3b) for a duck, Pietersen was in no mood to relent. The belligerent right-hander was aggressive from the word go as he dispatched the Rajasthan bowlers with disdain. Manish Pandey (14, 13b, 3x4) failed to kick on and his replacement Uthappa was on fire.

 

The burly right-hander slammed his twenty-fifth six in the tournament as he along with Pietersen added 60 in just 5.5 overs. Uthappa (26, 21b, 1x6, 2x4) was dismissed under debatable condition while Pietersen (62, 29b, 2x6, 10x4) after a destructive fifty was run-out in comical fashion. Taylor (10 not out, 11b, 1x6) slammed a huge six over mid-wicket to complete a clinical win.