IPL 5: Chris Gayle powers RCB to an emphatic win over Mumbai

RCB seal an easy victory over Mumbai with 2 overs to spare.

Vineet Ramakrishnan

Mumbai: With an emphatic 9 wickets victory over Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore kept themselves in the hunt for playoffs courtesy another ‘Gaylestorm’ here at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday. Scorecard I Points tally » Gayle led the chase with a clinical but equally brutal 82 runs off 59 balls that included five fours and six hits over the boundary. Gayle and T Dilshan started off the run chase in a cautious manner playing out the early assault of Malinga and RP Singh on the lively green wicket. Once both the openers got themselves settled, they started milking runs all-around the park ably supported by Virat Kohli 36 (25). Earlier in the day, Mumbai Indians had crawled to a decent total of 141 in their allotted 20 overs courtesy a late blitz by Harbhajan Singh (20) and Kieron Pollard (21). Dinesh Karthik had held the Mumbai Indians innings together with a well compiled 44 (39) after the top order had collapsed first up. For Bangalore, Vinay Kumar and Zaheer Khan provided the perfect start with some tight bowling and quick wickets in the powerplay overs. Harshal Patel and Muttiah Muralidharan choked the Mumbai batting line up during the middle overs picking up two wickets each.