Jacques of all trades

Tue, Oct 13 09:52 AM

Brendon McCullum's dream of replicating his knock in the opening match of the 2008 IPL at the Chinnaswamy stadium was shattered as Royal Challengers Bangalore reversed the script against his current Kiwi side Otago in their Champions League encounter on Monday.

After the home team set Otago a competitive target of 189 runs, all eyes were on openers Brendon McCullum and Aaron Redmond. As Jacques Kallis claimed McCullum, Otago's hopes of staying in the hunt looked slim, and they soon got knocked out of the tournament, crashing to a 80-run defeat - their second in as many matches.

Kallis first played a stunning knock of 73 from just 59 balls with the bat, and then again took the centrestage with the ball. He added Aaron Redmond and Hamish Rutherford apart from the prize wicket of McCullum to wipe off the Otago top order and finished with figures of 4-1-18-3 as Royal Challengers finished second from Group C, becoming the second IPL side after Delhi Daredevils to qualify for the Super Eights.

Kallis, opening the innings, used all his experience to make sure he batted till the end while Robin Uthappa was looking to get back his old touch. Young Virat Kohli continued to play fearlessly displaying an ability to score at a brisk pace.

After Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat, it was clear that someone had to stick till the end and guide the team to a good position.

Kallis and Uthappa added 75 runs for the opening stand, their best so far. The stage was set as Uthappa went after the bowlers while Kallis hung around taking his chances. Uthappa slammed 42 runs off 31 balls which saw two sixes and five four and his innings provided Bangalore with a perfect start.

Uthappa perished to a leading edge when Craig Cumming dived forward to claim the catch off leggie Redmond to claim Otago's first breakthrough.

Virat forces the pace

Next man in Virat, got into the groove without taking much time in his quickfire 32 and showed his array of stylish strokes all around the park, which included five boundaries. His innings came to an end after he went looking to clear the ropes off Neil Wagner but found himself caught by Nathan McCullum.

Playing against a team from his home nation, Kiwi Ross Taylor once again proved his mettle. His ability of playing big strokes makes him an asset to the Royal Challengers squad. He continued from where he left off in the first match, playing another swashbuckling innings as he struck an unbeaten 32 off 11 balls. In Ian Butler's last over, Taylor struck three sixes and one four to see his team reach a healthy total. Kallis returned back to the pavilion unbeaten to a standing ovation from the packed stands.

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