A devastating Adam Gilchrist hit a blistering 106 runs off 55 balls to help the Kings XI Punjab set an unattainable 232 target for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL on Tuesday. The 206-run stand between Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh set up a 111-run win for Kings.

The Australian pair put on the record Twenty20 partnership in 96 balls on Tuesday, propelling Punjab to a season-high total of 2-232 in Dharamsala.

Captain Gilchrist (106 off 55 balls) and Marsh (unbeaten 79 off 49 balls) smashed the Bangalore attack to all parts of the ground after the wicketkeeper had elected to bat first.

The Royal Challengers were never in the chase, particularly after opener Chris Gayle was dismissed for a seven-ball duck in the second over, and they were skittled for 121 with three overs remaining.

Only AB de Villiers (34 off 27) provided serious resistance as Piyush Chawla (4-17) and Ryan Harris (3-28) did the damage with the ball.

Gilchrist was heavily involved in the field, taking two catches and collecting a stumping in his man-of-the-match performance.

Harris had the dangerous Gayle caught behind with the ninth ball of the innings and when Asad Pathan (7) was caught by David Hussey at cover off Paul Valthaty (1-30), Bangalore were reeling at 4-43.

De Villiers and Mohammad Kaif (15) put on 29 for the fifth wicket, but the game was well and truly over.

Earlier, Punjab had made a reasonable start until Valthaty (20) fell in the fourth over.

Gilchrist, who managed just two runs from his first nine balls, brutally upped the ante from that point on though, hitting 58 runs in overs eight through to 10 with Marsh to have the score at 1-99 at the midway point of the innings.

It was Marsh who provided the biggest over of the match off Johan van der Wath.

The South African’s third over, and the 15th of the innings, was smashed for 30 runs with Marsh hitting three sixes and three fours.

Gilchrist reached triple figures in the last over, smashing Charl Langeveldt for four over extra cover to bring up his ton, before falling two balls later after steering a catch straight to Gayle at short third man.

The top-of-the-table Royal Challengers were always a chance with their strong batting line-up, but when Gayle fell inside two overs it was an uphill battle they were never going to win.

Both teams have one game remaining ahead of the playoffs, with Bangalore remaining top despite the loss, while Kings XI are outside the top four on net run-rate despite their comprehensive win.

Source: sportal.co.in

Pic: espncricinfo.com