IPL 2018: AB de Villiers shows his class and other talking points as Royal Challengers Bangalore open their account

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  • De Villiers' excellent fifty won it for the hosts.

    Royal Challengers Bangalore got their first points on the board in the IPL as they beat Kings XI Punjab by four wickets at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Friday.

    Virat Kohli’s men did well to bowl out Kings XI for 155 runs before getting over the finish line in the chase during the final over. With this win, the Royal Challengers have started in perfect fashion on their home turf after a dismal last season where they won just one out of seven in Bangalore.

    Here, we look at the key talking points from Royal Challenger’s first win.

    YADAV’S ELECTRIC SPELL BREAKS KINGS XI’S BACK

    Kings XI opener KL Rahul picked up exactly from where he left off in his record fastest fifty against the Delhi Daredevils as he smashed Chris Woakes for two sixes in the very first over. Soon the visitors raced away to 32/0 in three overs before Umesh Yadav turned up with an over for the ages.

    Charging in at full pace, the Indian bowler dismissed Mayank Agarwal after the right-hander was caught behind while attempting a flashy cover drive. Aaron Finch, who had only recently joined up with the Kings XI squad from Australia, lasted only one ball after being struck on the pads by Yadav.

    A hat-trick was prevented by Yuvraj Singh but the veteran had no answer to Yadav’s ripping in-swinging delivery that sent the middle-stump for a walk. Within the space of six balls, Kings XI’s top-order was back in the pavilion with RCB in total command.

    RAHUL FALLS SHORT OF CONSECUTIVE FIFTIES

    Back on the ground of his former employers, Rahul’s splendid start on Friday might have had Royal Challengers wondering if they had missed a trick by not picking up the opening batsman for the 2018 edition.

    After his two sweetly timed sixes off Woakes in the first over, Rahul continued to play his free-flowing strokes despite Yadav wreaking havoc at the other end. He would smash two more sixes as he quickly raced away to 47 off just 29 deliveries. Looking good for another half-century after his 14-ball blitzkrieg against the Delhi Daredevils, Rahul’s innings was cut short by young Washington Sundar.

    Attempting a slog sweep against the off-spinner, Rahul could only manage a top-edge which was gobbled up easily by Sarfaraz Khan at short third-man.

    DE VILLIERS SHOWS HIS CLASS TO WIN IT FOR THE HOSTS

    Despite having a modest total to chase on what looked like a good track, the hosts had lost their way by the half-way mark of their innings. At 87/4, the visitors would have sniffed a chance of a sneaky victory but those hopes were quelled as soon as AB de Villiers found his range.

    Starting circumspectly, the South African ace saved his best for the death overs with the asking-rate climbing to above 10 per over as he smashed Mujeeb ur Rahman for consecutive sixes in the 17th over.

    The right-handed batsman swatted Mohit Sharma for another massive six in the next over to bring up a fine half-century off just 36 balls. By the time he departed in the penultimate over for 57, De Villiers had already ensured victory for the Royal Challengers. It was an innings of pure class from the stalwart and it came when they needed it the most.

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