Gilchrist shines for Hyderabad
A brutal half-century from Adam Gilchrist set Deccan Chargers on their way to a 24-run win over Bangalore Royal Challengers.
The Australian smashed a quickfire 71 and Rohit Sharma contributed 52 as Deccan reached 184 for six from their 20 overs in the Indian Premier League match in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Bangalore's reply never really got going with captain Kevin Pietersen managing just 11 before he fell to a teasing delivery from Pragyan Ojha and a smart stumping from Gilchrist.
Dravid, Kohli efforts go in vain
Rahul Dravid gave them hope with a thumping 48 before holing out, and Virat Kohli posted 50, but with precious little support from their teammates their efforts proved in vain.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Deccan opener Gilchrist took the fight to Bangalore from the outset, peppering the boundary on his way to a 71 off 45 balls which featured six fours and five sixes.
The veteran Australian was dismissed by Pietersen in the 14th over, one of two victims for the England man, the pick of his side's bowlers.
Gilchrist was caught in the covers by Kohli to leave Deccan on 127 for three, but Sharma was on hand to carry on piling on the runs.
He cracked 52 of just 30 deliveries before Pietersen pouched a catch at mid-on off the bowling of Dale Steyn, but by then the Chargers had already passed the 170 mark.
The former England captain finished with two wickets for 31 off his four overs, also dismissing Scott Styris for 14. Herschelle Gibbs (13) was only other batsman to manage double figures for Deccan.
Bangalore's innings got off to worst possible start when Jesse Ryder was clean bowled first ball by Fidel Edwards.
Neither Robin Uthappa (12) or Jacques Kallis (15) could make any significant inroads into the Deccan total as the Royal Challengers floundered on 38 for three.
And Pietersen lasted just 15 balls and managed just one four before he too was sent packing.
A fifth-wicket partnership of 53 between Dravid and Kohli, who was caught by Gibbs off RP Singh in the final over, threatened to haul them back into the contest, but the required run rate remained out of reach as Bangalore finished on 160 for eight.
Singh finished with two wickets for 16 from three overs and Styris three for 32 from four.
Teams:
Bangalore Royal Challengers: JD Ryder, RV Uthappa (wk), JH Kallis, KP Pietersen (capt), R Dravid, V Kohli, R Vinay Kumar, P Kumar, A Kumble, DW Steyn, Karan Sharma.
Deccan Chargers: AC Gilchrist (capt/wk), HH Gibbs, SB Styris, VVS Laxman, RG Sharma, Y Venugopal Rao, Harmeet Singh, PP Ojha, RP Singh, DB Ravi Teja, FH Edwards.
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