Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost the match against Gujarat Lions. Virat Kohli scored century of 63 balls but could not rescue the team home. But Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Pune Superwarriors in the same day.

Virat Kohli was successful once again. He scored century and remained unbeaten against Gujarat Lions in the match on 24th April, 2016. Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first.

 

Although Shane Watson and De Villiers got out cheaply after that Virat Kohli gave an unbeaten stand with wicket keeper Rahul. Shane Watson got out for 6 runs in the ball of Kulkarni. De Villiers scored 20 runs of 16 balls and got out in the ball of Tambe. Rahul remained unbeaten with a half-century.

He was not out with 51 runs in 35 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Virat Kohli ultimately hit 2 boundaries in the last 2 balls of Dwane Bravo and reached 100 runs from 92 runs in the last over. Virat Kohli scored the century in 63 balls with 11 fours and an over-boundary.

 

In reply Gujarat Lions made a brilliant start. In the previous matches, Gujarat Lions opened the innings with Aaron Finch and Brendon Mccullum. In this match, Mccullum opened the innings with Dwayne Smith of West Indies. He was brutal against spinner Chahal. He scored an over-boundary of a no-ball and free hit in the over of Chahal. In the first 4 overs, Gujarat Lions scored more than 40 runs without the loss of any wicket. The bulk of the runs came from the bat of Dwayne Smith.

 

Within the first 8 runs, Gujarat Lions scored 78 runs for the loss of 1 wicket. Smith got out. Smith scored 32 runs of 21 balls with 3 boundaries and 2 over-boundary. But Mccullum was unbeaten on 34 runs with captain Suresh Raina.

 

Mccullum got out after an aggressive innings. He scored 42 runs and got caught and bowled in the ball of Shamshi. After 12 over Gujarat Lions were 103 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Suresh Raina and Dinesh Kartik were at the crease.

 

After 15.3 overs Gujarat Lions were 140 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Both Suresh Raina and Dinesh Kartik were unbeaten on 28 runs. Raina got out for the score of 28 runs of 24 balls with 3 boundaries. He got caught out to Abdulla in the ball of Chahal. After 16 overs Gujarat Lions were 142 for the loss of 3 wickets. Dinesh Kartik with 29 runs and Ravindra Jadeja with 1 run were at the crease.

 

Ravindra Jadeja scored an over-boundary in the 2nd ball of Abdulla in the 17th over. After 17 overs Gujarat Lions were 154 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. They required only 27 runs in the last 3 overs. Richardson bowled his last over and came back in the attack in the 18th over. He dropped a caught and bowled chance in the over. After 18 overs Gujarat Lions were 160 runs for 3 wickets. In the last 2 overs they required only 21 runs.

 

Kartik scored a boundary of the first ball of Abdulla. In the 19th over, it was a risk to bowl a spinner.

 

Watson bowled a no ball in the last over. It made matters worst. Ravindra Jadeja got out in the 2nd ball, but Bravo came up and scored a boundary at the back of the bowler and won the match for Gujarat Lions. Dinesh Kartik remained unbeaten with 50 runs in the match.

 

In the other match, Kolkata Knight Riders faced Sunrisers Pune at Pune on 24th April, 2016. Gautam Gambhir won the toss and elected to field first. Manish Pandey was not in the team as he contacted chicken pox. Pieterson was out of the match for hamstring injury.

 

Duplessis opened the innings with Ajinkya Rahane. Shakib Al Hassan picked up the wicket of Duplessis bowled out after he scored 4 runs of 9 balls.Rahane and Smith played the pace bowling of Morne Morkel and Andre Russel very well. Pune Supergiants were 43 for the loss of 1 wicket after 7 overs.

 

Gautam Gambhir used the spinners Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hassan, Piyush Chawla in the first 6 overs. After 13 overs Pune Supergiants were 83 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Rahane and Perera were at the crease. Rahane had been the most consistent batsman for Pune Supergiants in 2016 IPL.

 

Albie Morkel was send after the wicket of Perera fell. After 16 overs Pune Supergiants were 108 for the loss of 3 wickets. Ultimately Pune Superwarriors scored 160 runs in 20 overs.  Dhoni struck brilliant boundaries and over boundaries and Morkel went for runs.

 

Morkel was very expensive in the match. He gave away 30 runs in 3 overs. Sunil Narine also gave 32 runs and got 1 wicket. He was a bit too expensive. Satish, Piyush Chawla all were taken for runs.

 

Rahane was the highest scorer with 67 runs of 52 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. Smith scored 31 runs and Mahendra Singh Dhoni was not out with 23 runs.

 

In reply Kolkata Knight Riders had a worst start. Robin Uthappa got out for a duck. Gautam Gambhir got run out for 11 runs. It was a disaster. Suryakant Yadav came to the rescue and scored 60 runs with big hits.

In the middle overs, Yusuf Pathan did a great job. He scored 36 runs of 27 balls. Then Russell, Piyush Chawla, Satish cheaped in with smaller knocks. Russell scored 17 runs. In the last over, Umesh Yadav hit a tremendous six to get Kolkata Knight Riders home. It was unbelievable. Albie Morkel was also amazed with the stroke. He bowled the last over and he got Satish bowled out.

 

It was bad luck for Virat Kohli and his team, but Gautam Gambhir and his men just escaped a bad defeat.

After the match, Kolkata Knight Riders went to the top of the Table of IPL. Pune Superwarriors went to the bottom of the table. Mumbai Indians were at the 6th position and Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru were at the 5th position. It is interesting to see which 4 teams qualify for the semi-finals in IPL.