Royal Challengers crush Knight Riders

Dravid, Uthappa star in Royal Challengers seven-wicket win over Knight Riders

Quickfire innings from Rahul Dravid (52 off 35 balls) and Robin Uthappa (52 off 22 balls) saw Royal Challengers Bangalore crush Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in the Indian Premier League match at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Saturday.

Chasing a total of 161 runs, Bangalore reached the target with 17 balls to spare.

When in-form Jacques Kallis fell to Ashoke Dinda for eight, it looked like a super start for Kolkata. However, Dravid's and S Sriram got together for a 70-run partnership to steady the Bangalore innings.

Then it was left to Uthappa, who once again tormented the Kolkata bowlers to help his team to a comfortable victory.

Earlier, Brendon McCullum top scored with a fiery 45 but Kolkata Knight Riders frittered away a breezy start to settle for a modest 160 for nine against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the crucial match.

At one stage, Kolkata were placed comfortably at 101 for one in 11 overs, looking for a huge score, but the whole script changed as the visitors struggled to keep wickets in hand.

Invited to bat, Kolkata got off to a rollicking start with Ganguly (33) and Gayle (34) going hammers and tongs right from the word go.

They had galloped to 52 in barely 32 balls when Kallis produced the much-needed breakthrough for Bangalore.

Venturing to hit the burly fast bowler over the top, Gayle holed out to Dravid at covers but not before hitting six fours and a six in his 15 ball cameo.