CHRIS Gayle kept up his red-hot form with an unbeaten half-century to steer Royal Challengers Bangalore to a nine-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.
Gayle (398), second highest run-scorer in the league having played six matches compared to number one Virender Sehwag’s 424 in 11 games, blasted a 44-ball 70 as Bangalore, chasing Rajasthan’s 146 for six, romped home with three overs to spare.
Their sixth win in a row, and seventh in 11 matches, put Bangalore in second position behind leaders Mumbai Indians and handed defeat to Royals skipper Shane Warne in his last home match.
Shane Watson (34) and Rahul Dravid (37) gave Rajasthan a good start but they were pegged back by paceman Sreenath Aravind (3-34).
Gayle, who hammered four sixes, and Tillakaratne Dilshan (38) then gave Bangalore a whirlwind 68-run opening stand.
Warne removed Dilshan in the seventh over but Gayle and Virat Kohli (39 not out) saw the Challengers home.
