Rahul show helps KXIP beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

DUBAI: Century from skipper KL Rahul and attacking bowling attack gave Kings XI Punjab first win in 13th edition IPL here on Thursday as they thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 97 runs.

Chasing huge 207 to win, RCB lost control the match at the starting of the innings and never got ride of it. They lost young Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Philippe and Virat Kohli inside 3 overs at 4 runs on the board. AB de Villiers (28) and Washington Sunder (30) tried but finally they were bundled out for just 109 in 17 overs.

Ravi Bishnoi (3/32), Murugan Ashwin (3/21) and Sheldon Cottrell (2/17) were the successfull bowlers of Kings XI.

Earlier, KL Rahul's unbeaten 132 off 69 balls helped Kings XI Punjab score an imposing 206/3.

Rahul thus became the first player to score a century this season and his is also the highest individual score by an Indian in the IPL.

Rahul opened the innings with Mayank Agarwal and the fact that the latter was the second highest scorer for KXIP with 26 shows how big Rahul's contribution was. Rahul smashed 14 fours and seven sixes in his innings.

He was given two lifelines by none other than RCB captain Virat Kohli, who dropped catches off him in the 17th and 18th over. Rahul punished his national team captain for the dropped catches in the last two overs, smashing 26 runs off Dale Steyn in the 19th over and ending the 20th with a four and consecutive sixes.

This is the second time this season that a team has scored more than 200 in an innings. On Tuesday, Rajasthan Royals had scored 216/7 against Chennai Super Kings.

Chennai Super Kings will face Delhi Capitals on Friday.

Brief scores: KXIP 206/3 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 132 not out, Mayank Agarwal 26; Shivam Dube 2/33) beat RCB 109/10 in 17 overs (Washington Sundar 30, AB de Villiers 28, Finch 20, Ravi Bishnoi 3/32, Murugan Ashwin 3/21 and Sheldon Cottrell 2/17. IANS

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