AB de Villiers hit an unbeaten 64 as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi Daredevils by 20 runs in the Indian Premier League on Saturday (India time).
The South African's knock proved the cornerstone of the home side's innings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore as they reached 8-157 off their 20 overs.
In reply, the Daredevils made a strong start before Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan (3-25) stepped in with three wickets to end the chase early.
Aaron Finch (25) and Naman Ojha (33) forged a 42-run partnership after the early loss of skipper Virender Sehwag for a first-ball duck, before both players fell to the wily spin of Muralitharan.
Venugopal Rao (18) and Yogesh Nagar (16) kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Daredevils but Andrew McDonald struck in the 14th over to dismiss Rao after a fantastic catch by Mayank Agarwal.
Royal Challengers skipper Daniel Vettori claimed Nagar's scalp before he could build a steady partnership with Irfan Pathan. The left-hander failed to repeat his performance from the previous game as he was run out for 24.
The Daredevils required 27 runs to win from the last over but fell short as Doug Bracewell (12 not out) and Morne Morkel (two not out) were left at the crease.
Earlier, the home side made a lightning start as McDonald smashed 30 runs from 19 deliveries.
But it was de Villiers' unbeaten 64 off 42 that ensured the Royal Challengers set a formidable target for the visitors.
After reaching 2-56, the runs dried up as the Daredevils picked up two quick wickets to dismiss Virat Kohli (8) and Saurabh Tiwary (1).
Mayank Agarwal pitched in with a 16-run cameo but it was the dependable de Villiers who held on to his end and piled on the misery for the Delhi bowlers.
After the spurt of wickets in the middle, the Daredevils bowling seemed out of sorts after Irfan Pathan's penultimate over cost them 18 runs.
Bracewell was the pick of the bowlers with 3-32 while Morkel finished with 2-30.
Pathan had a forgettable outing yet again with the ball after he went wicketless for 47 runs.
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