An unbeaten half-century from AB de Villiers steered Royal Challengers Bangalore into the IPL final after a top-order collapse against Gujarat Lions
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Commentator: Deivarayan Muthu
11.23pm AB is mobbed by his team-mates. Sarfraz and Chahal jump onto him and the helmet gets knocked back. Wild celebrations in the RCB camp. What an innings this has been from AB on this slow un-Chinnaswamy track. Kohli and Gayle embrace each other.
Dhawal Kulkarni cut through the top order on the helpful track with four wickets, but AB provided the spine of the chase, and then muscle, with a helping hand from Abdulla.
The RCB top order experienced failure probably for the first time this season. But AB stepped up and how! From 5 for 29 and then 6 for 68, RCB knocked off 159. The unbroken 91-run stand between AB and Abdulla is the second highest for the seventh wicket in IPL.
Suresh Raina: AB batted really well. We bowled well upfront. We bowled well in the middle It is a small ground and we did not get wickets in the in-between overs. Smithy and Dwivedi batted well. 160 was defendable. Dr Smith made crucial runs.
Virat Kohli: I don't believe that I am standing here as the winning captain. That ends the debate who is the best. I bow down to the big man [AB]. Come the big game, AB stands up. One of the best knock under pressure. Really happy for him. We have played good cricket coming into the playoffs. Today, the top order did not do well. I could see the opposition was worried about AB. Credit to Abdulla as well. Terrific composure from the young guy. The ball stopped early but eased in the second innings. It couldn't be a better scripted story for us: playoffs in Bangalore and final in Bangalore. This one is for the people of Bangalore.
Chants of "AB AB AB," ring around the Chinnaswamy.
AB de Villiers, Man of the Match: I was very, very nervous to be honest. I know if I was at the end, we would be close. The one boundary just cleared the fielder [Finch] and I saw the ball well from then. I attacked Dwayne Smith; Virat said the weather was bad. This crowd is the loudest I have heard in my life... We went down in the first half of the tournament, but we have turned it around.
Sushil: "Well all the focus on ABD but what an supporting innings from Abdulla. Also excellent bowling by Dhawal."
Davinder: "Raina did mistake by bowling out Kulkarni and Jadeja early"
Tejas Shah: "For me the players of the game Abdulla and Binny..they stopped the slide..when wickets were falling like house of cards.."
lohith: "Well doneRrrrrrrCcccccccBbbbbbbb#Playbold!!!!!
Cracking match. Thanks for tuning in. Who will join RCB in the final? Lions again? KKR or SRH? That is all we have for you from this match. Goodnight
RCB players line up by the edge of the boundary
Gujarat Lions topped the IPL league table, but they are underdogs going into their Qualifier against Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have won four games on the trot and are playing at home
AB de Villiers' unbeaten 79 off 47 balls ensured that Bangalore overcame a top-order collapse and chased down 159 in ten balls to spare, against Gujarat, and enter the finals of the Indian T20 Le
Stats highlights from the first qualifier between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Lions
Plays of the day from the Qualifier between Gujarat Lions and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium
