Aaron Finch’s rapid 72 off 34 balls helped Gujarat Lions beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets. While the match credits are being given to Finch, the victory was set up by the Gujarat bowlers led by Andrew Tye, who took 3 wickets, conceding 12 runs in his four overs. With this victory Gujarat moved up for the sixth spot, while RCB were pushed down to the seventh with only five points from nine games.

Royal Challengers Bangalore are really struggling with the nature of the pitch at home this year. Their batting order generally likes the ball to come on to aid stroke play, which has not been the case. The woes continued as they found themselves reeling at 22 for three by the fifth over.

Gujarat won the match and elected to field first. Chris Gayle along with Indian team skipper Virat Kholi came for the opening. The duo was again out of its charm, especially Chris Gayle, who has not performed in this season so well. The Jamaican scored 8 runs off 11 balls, where as Kholi scored 10 off 13 balls. The home team then slipped further after a miscommunication led to AB de Villier’s downfall.  With 5 down for 60, Pawan Negi walked in and hit two consecutive boundaries before targeting Soni with two maximums. But he was holed out in the same over at deep midwicket. Jadhav scored 31 off 18 balls. The partnership between Jadhav and Negi allowed RCB to reach 132/10.

Gujarat Lions' Ishan Kishan hit four boundaries in the first two overs, but was trapped in front by Samuel Badree for 16 off 10 balls. While Badree got rid of McCullum for three.

Finch made his intentions clear by sending the ball over the roof of Chinnaswamy. Off the next delivery he again hit for another maximum. His 22 ball fifty is the fastest IPL fifty by a Gujarat player.

After Finch’s dismissal, Raina ensured Gujarat Lions got their two points as they chased down the target in just 13.5 overs and with seven wickets left.

AMandeep