RCB beat KXIP by 9 runs

RCB beat KXIP by 9 runs

Yuvraj Singh notched up the first hat-trict of second Premier League and then hit a blistering 33-ball 50 but still could not avoid Kings XI Punjab's narrow 9-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore here today.

Chasing 146 to win, Kings XI Punjab failed to capitalise on the blistering start giving by Yuvraj and although Kumar Sangakkara (17), Mahela Jayawardene (19) and Irfan Pathan (12) tried their bit, in the end they could manage just 137 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs.

For Royal Challengers, skipper Anil Kumble, Roelof van Der Merwe and Praveen Kumar scalped two wickets each.

Yuvraj, promoting himself up at the opener's slot, gave Punjab a rollicking start as he scored a quickfire fifty, bejewelled with four sixes and three fours.

Yuvraj hit Roelof van Der Merwe for the first six of the innings in the seventh over, before welcoming Anil Kumble with a slog sweep six over deep square leg in the 8th over and then hitting Jesse Ryder over long off.

He brought up his fifty in 19.4 overs with another six off Kumble but the leg-spinner had the last laugh when he had him caught by Jacques Kallis in the next bowl as Kings XI went into the strategic break at 70 for one. PTI

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