Head, Mandeep's half centuries take RCB to 158/6

Travis Head smashed a brilliant unbeaten 75 after Mandeep Singh's 52 as Royal Challengers Bangalore recovered from a top-order collapse to post 158 for six in their IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders, here today.

Already out of contention for a play-off berth, RCB had nothing to lose but their top-order collapsed after being put into bat at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The big names like Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and A B de Villiers were dismissed cheaply as RCB slumped to 34 for three in the fifth over. Opener Mandeep (52) and Head then stitched 71 runs for the fourth wicket to take the score past 150-run mark. 

Head hit two sixes and a four from the final three deliveries as RCB took 21 runs in a late flourish.

Mandeep hit four boundaries and a six in his 43-ball knock while Head struck three fours and five sixes in his 47-ball unbeaten knock.

The match began in a dramatic fashion with Gayle, who has failed miserably this season, getting out in the first ball bowled by Umesh Yadav. The West Indian tried to defend but the ball moved away and took a leading edge to land at the hands of KKR captain Gautam Gambhir at short cover.

In comes



Kohli and the India captain negotiated six deliveries for two runs before he was dropped by Piyush Chawla off the bowling of Yadav in the third over.

Kohli (5), who has struggled in this IPL season, did not take advantage of the dropped catch and was out next to depart with Yadav having the last laugh. The change of pace did the trick as Kohli was beaten by Yadav and was caught plumb in front of the wickets.

Mandeep, on the other hand, hit some lusty blows at the other end, including a six off Chris Woakes, but another wicket -- in the form of de Villiers -- fell in fifth over.

De Villiers, who also had a season to forget, hit a four off Sunil Narine but in the next ball, he was out clean-bowled while trying to play a sweep shot of a fullish delivery.

With their best three batsmen gone for a meagre score, RCB reached 63 for three at the halfway stage with Mandeep and Head holding fort.

The duo batted through a rain-forced break of over 30 minutes with Mandeep reaching to his fifty shortly after resumption. But he got out immediately after reaching his fifty in the 16th over before Head took the score to 158 for 6 with some late big hitting.