Kohli smashes fourth ton season as RCB humble Kings XI

Bangalore: Captain Virat Kohli smashed his fourth century of the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Kings XI Punjab by 82 runs on D/L method on Wednesday.
Batting first in a rain affected match, RCB put up a mammoth 211 for three in 15 overs thanks mainly to Kohli’s century and Chris Gayle’s 32-ball 73.
In reply, Kings XI found the going tough and were restricted to 120 for nine in 14 overs.
Earlier, Virat Kohli battled immense physical pain to script yet another magnificent century to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to an imposing 211 for three.
Kohli (113 off 50 balls) notched up his fourth century in the ongoing IPL season and also became the only batsman to score more than 800 runs in a single edition. His tally stands at 865 runs from 13 matches.
Kohli, who had sustained multiple stitches due to his split webbing on left hand during the last match against Kolkata Knight Riders, gestured at it once he reached the three-figure landmark in the 14th over.
The RCB skipper blasted 12 fours and eight sixes as he piled 96 runs in 20 scoring strokes, while his opening partner Chris Gayle smashed a scintillating 32-ball 73 with the help of four boundaries and eight sixes.
The duo butchered the Kings XI Punjab bowlers with a whirlwind 147-run opening stand to lay the foundation for a huge score.
With heavy rain delaying the start, the match was reduced to a 15-over affair and Kings XI Punjab skipper Murali Vijay won the toss and elected to bowl.
Kohli continued his rampaging form and with Gayle firing early on, the duo amassed 53 runs without loss in the Powerplay overs.
The RCB skipper reached his fifty in 28 balls and alongwith Gayle brought up the team hundred in 8.5 overs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Gayle reached his 50 off 26 balls in the ninth over with the help of a flat six off Axar Patel over deep midwicket. However, he was dismissed in the 11th over when he was caught by David Miller at long-off.
Four balls later, AB de villiers (0) was sent back to the pavillion by Kyle Abbott when the South African was trying to make room to play a shot only to end up dragging it back onto the stumps.
In the 14th over, Kohli blasted Sharma for a six and a four before another attempt to sent him out of the park ended with a mishit, which was safely caught by Miller at long-off.