Bangalore beat Mumbai by 43 runs,

If one thought law of averages would eventually catch up with Chris Gayle, Friday wasn’t the day. Mumbai Indians found it the hard way. The West Indian giant was at his lethal best, smacking the Mumbai bowlers all round the park on his way to a 47-ball 89 to help Royal Challengers Bangalore post a comfortable win over Sachin Tendulkar’s team at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

In the second qualifier, Gayle blasted nine fours and five sixes in his 47-ball innings and shared a 113-run opening partnership with Mayank Agarwal (41) in 10.4 overs to set the foundation for a big score for Bangalore. They made 185 for four. Mumbai were never in the match and ended up at 142 for eight losing by 43 runs.

Tendulkar was the highest scorer for Mumbai, having made 40 off 24 balls but he did not have enough support from the other end. Mumbai also did not have good partnerships which were the hallmark of the Bangalore innings.

Tendulkar’s decision to bowl first backfired as Gayle took the Mumbai attack by the scruff of its neck and helped RCB amass 111 in first 10 overs. Mumbai came back strong in the second half and dismissed four of their batsmen in quick succession and did well to restrict the Royals inside the 200-mark.

Gayle gave Bangalore a blistering start, accumulating 27 runs in the first over off Abu Nechim, studded with three fours and a six, besidesfour wides. Taking a cue from Gayle, young Agarwal also clobbered Harbhajan Singh for a couple of boundaries through short third man in the second over.

Tendulkar then turned to Lasith Malinga but there was no respite for Mumbai as Gayle smashed his first ball through covers and then flicked one across the fine leg boundary.

Mayank brought up teams 50 in 3.2 overs with a huge six over long on off Harbhajan and followed it up with a nice-looking four through point as Royal Challengers reached 57 in four overs.
Munaf Patel also rolled his arms but there was no difference in the result as Gayle clobbered him for a boundary between mid-on and mid-wicket and managed to pick up another four across short fine leg.