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Quinton De Kock Image Credit: AFP

Dubai: Twenty-three-year-old Quinton De Kock stole the thunder through a stupendous knock of 108 off just 51 balls with 15 boundaries and three sixes to ensure  a stunning seven- wicket win for Delhi Daredevils over star-studded Royall Challengers Bangalore.  With Karun Nair, who hit an unbeaten 54 runs off 42 balls with six boundaries and one  six, De Kock  put on 134 runs in 12.4 overs to chase Bangalore whopping total of 191 for 5.

Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers had entertained their home ground crowd at the Chinnaswamy stadium through a 107 runs partnership in 10.5 overs but their effort went in vain.

Kohli’s 79 off 48 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes. De Villiers 55 off 33 balls with nine boundaries and one six. Shane Watson hit 33 off 19 balls with three sixes and two boundaries. Kohli also added 63 runs in just five overs with Watson. Chasing a run rate of 9.55, Delhi opener De Kock began positively hitting the first ball from Sreenath Aravind to the cover boundary.  In the last ball of that over, opener Shreyas Iyer fell for a duck to a stupendous catch orchestrated by Watson, who ran back from mid-on towards boundary and unable to control his speed passes the ball to Wiese who took a diving catch inches from the rope.  De Kock thrashed Parvez Rasool for three consecutive boundaries. 

Sanju Samson lasted only 14 balls to hit nine runs before pulling Watson to Yuzvendra Chahal at mid-wicket for 9. De Kock reached his half century in 22 balls and with Karun Nair too stroking well, at the half way mark Delhi needed 99 runs from the next 60 balls.

De Kock and Nair hit David Wiese for 20 runs in the 14th over. Their 100 runs partnership came 9.4 overs. Nair reached his half century in 36 balls.

De Kock raced to his century in 48 balls. He fell when Delhi needed just eight runs to win off ten balls to Watson. Delhi won with five balls to spare.

Earlier, Delhi won the toss and elected to bowl.  It was a sensational start with Chris Gayle falling for a duck to the third ball of the first over from Zaheer Khan. Gayle pushed at Zaheer delivery outside the off stump without moving his leg and JP Duminy at slip dived full length to his left to take a brilliant catch.

De Villiers, who joined his skipper Kohli, started off hitting Khan for two successive boundaries off the fifth and sixth ball of the over. The first was hit past the point and another through the cover to cheer the stunned home crowd who were disappointed at Gayle’s quick exit.

Kohli too hit a boundary off Chris Morris first delivery over point. He also punished Mohammad Shami who returned to action who had been out of action since January owing to a hamstring injury. De Villiers ended Shami’s over by hitting him for a six over deep mid-wicket. When Khan was hit for three successive four in the fifth over, Bangalore reached the 50 run mark in the fifth over.

Morris’ deliveries at a pace of 140kmph had no effect as De Villiers hit him to boundaries with ease. Amit Mishra who took four wickets in the last match against Kings XI Punjab was introduced in the eighth over and Kohi stepping out hit a boundary to long on.  De Villiers reached his half century in just 25 balls and Bangalore 97 for 1 at the half way stage.

The 107 runs partnership in 10.5 overs finally ended when Carlos Brathwaite had De Villiers loft to Shami at long on. Kohli reached his half century in 36 balls. Shane Watson whjo joined Kohli hit Brathwaite for a six and two successive boundaries in the 14th over. Kohli hit Mishra over the covers and reverse swept him to boundary.  Watson swept Khan for a six but Shami ended his innings of 33 off just 19 balls. He had added 63 runs in just five overs.

Sarfraz Khan got run out to a brilliant pick up and direct throw from Shami for 2. Kohli fell in the 18th over lofting Shami to Shreyas Iyer at long on and Bangalore’s hopes of reaching the 200 run mark faded with it.

Brief scores: Delhi Daredevils bt Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets.  Royal Challengers Bangalore  191 for 5 in 20 overs  (Virat Kohli 79, AB De Villiers 55, Shane Watson 33, Mohammad Shami 2 for 34) Delhi Daredevils 192 for 3 in 19.1 overs ( Quinton De Kock 108. Karan Nair 54n.o, Shane Watson 2 for 25)