IPL 2017: Amla, Maxwell Demolish RCB After KXIP Bowlers Set The Stage

Indore: Kings XI Punjab produced a thorough professional performance as they won their second IPL match on a canter, beating Royal Challenegers Bangalore by 8 wickets and overhauling RCB's score of 148 runs with 33 balls to spare.

It was a dominant performance with both bat and ball by the Kings, who have definitely announced themselves as the team to watch out for this season.

After their bowlers ensured that the Bangalore outfit was restricted to a below par total of 148, despite an AB de Villiers onslaught, it was the Kings XI Punjab top order which made a mockery of the target.

Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - As It Happened

Hashim Amla and Manan Vohra opened the innings and the duo started on an attacking note from the word go. Vohra and Amla put on 62 runs in under six overs, before the former was trapped in front of the wickets by Tymal Mills for 34 off just 21 deliveries.

Amla though continued in his cavalier style, hitting proper cricketing shots to yet again show how ordinary RCB's bowling attack is. Captain Glenn Maxwell joined in the fun as he hit sixes with the ease of eating his supper as the duo reached the target in the 15th over itself, Maxwell sealing the deal with a massive trademark six.

Hashim Amla stayed unbeaten on 58 off 38 deliveries, slamming four boundaries and three sixes during his stay at the wicket. Glenn Maxwell gave more proof of the fact that captaincy is sitting well on his shoulders, as he slammed four sixes and three boundaries in his 22-ball unbeaten knock of 43.

Earlier, Royal Challengers were off to the worst possible start after deciding to bat first with stand-in-skipper Shane Watson (1) sent back to the pavillion in the very first over. Axar Patel cleaning up Watson's stumps.

ALSO READ: KXIP vs RCB - Star Of the Match - Axar Patel

AB de Villiers walked in next, playing his first match this season after returning from an injury, and announced his intentions by hitting Sandeep Sharma for a boundary and then hitting Mohit Sharma for a massive six.

But RCB were pegged back as Sandeep came back to remove Vishnu Vinod (7) as the visitors slumped to 18/2. But the big moment came when Varun Aaron, playing his first match of the season against his old franchise, trapped Bangalore's last match hero Kedar Jadhav (1) in front of the wicket.

The ball looked to have hit Jadhav high on the pads but the umpire ruled in favour of the bowler as RCB were now down to 22/3 after five overs.

ALSO READ: KXIP vs RCB - Turning Point - Jadhav's Contentious Dismissal

Mandeep Singh joined de Villiers in the middle and the duo negotiated a couple of overs safely to ensure no more damage was done by the Punjab bowlers. Mandeep broke the shackles by hitting the last two deliveries of the ninth over for a boundary and a six.

But that was followed by four very economical overs for the Kings as both Mandeep and de Villiers didn't take too many chances, unable to hit even a boundary. The run-rate had slumped to under six by the end of the 13th over and that was a cause of worry.

The first delivery of the 14th over by Varun Aaron led to the fall of Bangalore's fourth wicket. Mandeep looked to pull a short delivery and top edged it, the ball went miles up in the air but Wriddhiman Saha ran backwards and eventually completed a spectacular catch. Mandeep departed for 28 and RCB were now in real trouble at 68/4.

What followed thereafter was vintage AB de Villiers batting, something fans world over have seen several times but would do anything to watch again and again.

The South African switched gears by depositing one in the stands in the 16th over, bowled by Varun Aaron. He then hit two gigantic sixes off the bowling of Marcus Stoinis in the 17th over, in the process also completing his half-century.

The 18th over saw Stuart Binny join the party as he hit Mohit Sharma for a six and boundary off the first two deliveries. AB de Villiers ensured it became a big over by hitting a maximum himself.

Sandeep Sharma came on to bowl the 19th over and despite his best attempts he couldn't stop de Villiers from hitting a boundary and two sixes as RCB raced on to 134/4 in 19 overs.

Mohit Sharma did a great job by not allowing the two RCB batsmen to hit a boundary off the first four deliveries, but AB de Villiers ensured his team finished on a high by slamming two sixes off the last two deliveries to stay unbeaten on 89 off 46 deliveries as RCB notched up 148/4 in their 20 overs.

• AB de Villiers
• Glenn Maxwell
• Hashim Amla
• Indian Premier League
• ipl
• IPL 10
• IPL 2017
• Kings XI punjab
• KXIP
• Manan Vohra
• RCB
• Royal Challengers Bangalore
• Varun Aaron