JAIPUR, India (AP) — South Africa allrounder Johan Botha starred with both bat and ball in Rajasthan Royals' impressive seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians while Virat Kohli's fluent half-century helped Royal Challengers Bangalore defeat Pune Warriors by 26 runs in IPL matches Friday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Chris Gayle, center, celebrates the dismissal of Mithun Manhas, left, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors in Bangalore, India, Friday
Botha grabbed three wickets and then hit 45 runs — the top score of the match — as Rajasthan made 95-3 off 18.1 overs in reply to Mumbai's 94-8 on a pitch that aided spin bowling.
The win took Rajasthan to nine points from eight games but Mumbai remained top with 10 from seven.
Bangalore also moved to nine from eight as Kohli (67) and West Indian Chris Gayle (49) helped amass 181-5. Pune was restricted to 155-5 and remained on four points after seven games.
Rajasthan took control of the run chase as Botha dealt with both pace and spin easily, hitting a six and two fours in an impressive 39-ball knock before being bowled by Munaf Patel in the 18th over.
He figured in a 39-run second-wicket stand with Australia opener Shane Watson (26) that set up the chase and then 34 with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor to take Rajasthan to within five runs of victory.
"I'm really happy with my performance," Botha said. "We just wanted to start well and that's what we did ... 120-130 would have been a tough chase."
In Mumbai's innings, Australia allrounder Andrew Symonds' 26-ball 17 was the highest score, as the batsmen struggled after being put in to bat.
Spinners Botha (3-6) and Ashok Menaria (2-20) led the way but were ably backed up by pace bowler Amit Singh (2-14).
After Singh grabbed the early wicket of South African opener Davy Jacobs, left-arm spinner Menaria removed in-form Sachin Tendulkar for seven and Ambati Rayudu (11).
Rajasthan captain Shane Warne then dismissed Rohit Sharma as Mumbai was left struggling on 50-4 after 10 overs.
Any hopes of a recovery were dashed by a two-over spell from Botha, whose wickets included explosive batsmen Symonds and Kieron Pollard.
At Bangalore, Gayle got the home side off to a flying start, smashing 49 off only 26 balls with four sixes and four fours. Kohli then came on to produce his 42-ball knock, which was studded with four sixes and as many fours.
Kohli, who overtook Sachin Tendulkar as the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 294 so far, added 66 for the third wicket with South African AB de Villiers (26) to help boost the total.
For Pune, New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder made a quick 51 before he was caught in the deep off left-arm spinner Syed Mohammad.
Captain Yuvraj Singh then bludgeoned his way to 41 off only 23 balls in the face of a rising asking-rate, at one point taking 16 off three deliveries from Mohammad, to briefly give Pune hope.
But pace bowler Zaheer Khan came back to stop the run flow and also dismiss Yuvraj in the 17th over.
Scores:
Rajasthan Royals 95-3 in 18.1 overs (Johan Botha 45, Shane Watson 26; Munaf Patel 2-18) def. Mumbai Indians 94-8 in 20 overs (Andrew Symonds 17; Johan Botha 3-6, Amit Singh 2-14, Ashok Menaria 2-20).
Royal Challengers Bangalore 181-5 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 67, Chris Gayle 49; Alfonso Thomas 2-23, Rahul Sharma 2-27) def. Pune Warriors 155-5 in 20 overs (Jesse Ryder 51, Yuvraj Singh 41; Chris Gayle 1-8).
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