ROYAL CHALLENGERS EASILY BEATS DELHI DAREDEVILS BY SEVEN WICKETS

A half-century from Jacques Kallis was the backbone of Royal Challengers Bangalore's innings, as they easily got a comfortable seven-wicket victory over the Delhi Daredevils.
The South African all-rounder finished unbeaten on 58 as his side, who had to win to maintain their semi-final hopes, cruised to their target of 134 with seven wickets and an over to spare.
Earlier, Praveen Kumar took three wickets for Bangalore to restrict Delhi to a mediocre 134 for seven, with Gautam Gambhir (27), AB de Villiers (28) and Dinesh Karthik (31) all getting starts, but failing to build sizeable innings.
Kumar came out firing, striking a double blow in the first over removing the dangerous Virender Sehwag and Mithun Manhas, both without troubling the scorers.
That brought together Gambhir and De Villiers, who battled to really get going despite sharing a 36-run partnership for the third wicket.
But Kallis eventually got the breakthrough when he was gifted the wicket of the Indian, slapping a short and poor delivery straight to Ross Taylor at cover-point leaving Delhi at 37 for three.
De Villiers and Karthik then consolidated, helping their side reach the strategy break with 63 on the board, but the resumption of play spelt the end of the South African, bowled by fellow countryman Roelof van der Merwe.
Anil Kumble then accounted for Andrew McDonald (three) and Yogesh Nagar (20) in quick succession, but late hitting from Karthik and Farveez Maharoof helped their side reach a below-par total.
In response Ashish Nehra struck an early blow when he had Robin Uthappa (two) caught behind in the first over, but Kallis and Rahul Dravid began to slowly rebuild.
They brought up their 50 partnership in 52 deliveries as Bangalore reached the halfway stage at 54 for one.
The pair put on 70 together, before Dravid chipped a simple return catch back to Nagar, but Taylor came in improved the momentum even further by blasting 25 in just 12 balls.
The New Zealander slammed three sixes and four to leave his side needing 34 from 31 balls and Kallis, who raised his 50 in 51 balls, along with Mark Boucher (10 not out) lifted their side to what may turn out to be a priceless win