Ross Taylor hammered a half-century as the Royal Challengers Bangalore ended the Delhi Daredevils' chances of progressing to the semi-final.

The Royal Challengers inflicted an eight-wicket defeat upon the Daredevils.

The Daredevils, needing a victory to stay in the tournament, had started well with opener Virender Sehwag (47) getting them off to a flyer.

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However, Anil Kumble turned the match around with a three-wicket haul, helping to restrict the Daredevils to a mere 138 for six.

Taylor then bludgeoned 65 off just 38 deliveries and dominated a second-wicket stand worth 93 with Rahul Dravid (32 not out) as the Challengers romped home in 15.1 overs.

The victory sent the Cape Cobras and the Victoria Bushrangers through to the semi-final.

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Sehwag and opening partner Gautam Gambhir had given the Daredevils a fine start, putting on 48 for the opening wicket in quick time.

Sehwag dominated that stand, launching his blitz with three consecutive boundaries in the second over from Praveen Kumar.

The opener followed up with successive blows off Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and continued to score freely although he lost Gambhir early.

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Steyn effected the breakthrough and the South African bowler should have had a second wicket immediately afterwards, but Tillakaratne Dilshan (20) was dropped by Praveen at deep square-leg.

Dilshan then survived a run-out chance but the Challengers broke through again with the wicket of Sehwag.

Top Performer: Ross Taylor

The Daredevils' innings then unravelled as Kumble struck vital blows in the middle-order.

He first sent back Dilshan with a neat return catch, then trapped Dinesh Karthik in front and had Owais Shah (17) caught in the deep as the Daredevils lost the plot.

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The Challengers' reply had stuttered at the start with opener Manish Pandey - struck by cramps - being denied a runner by the umpires and forced to retire hurt.

Robin Uthappa fell for nine to Dirk Nannes and in walked Taylor. The New Zealand batsman smashed Glenn McGrath for three boundaries in his first over and later cracked Amit Mishra for two sixes and two fours in the leg-spinner's second over.

In between, Taylor was dropped by Ashish Nehra on 18 at long-off, the fielder making matters worse by palming the ball over the ropes. He was dropped again on 32, Rajat Bhatia failing to grasp a return catch.

Nannes finally ended Taylor's stay by knocking out middle stump, but by then victory was in sight.

Virat Kohli (24 not out off 10) drove Mishra for four boundaries and Dravid finished off the game with a six off Nehra, handing the home side a consolation victory.