Highest partnerships in IPL history: Virat Kohli-Chris Gayle 204 not out
Chris Gayle's first century of the 2012 Indian Premier League was complemented by a sparkling half century from Virat Kohli as they produced 204 runs for the second wicket for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Delhi Daredevils.
Chris Gayle's first century of the 2012 Indian Premier League was complemented by a sparkling half century from Virat Kohli as they produced 204 runs for the second wicket for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Delhi Daredevils.
It was the second best T20 partnership then after Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist's 206 for Kings XI Punjab against RCB at Dharamsala in 2011. RCB won the match by 21 runs after scoring 215/1 and then restricting the home side to 194/9 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Gayle bludgeoned 128 off 62 balls with seven boundaries and 13 sixes while Kohli smashed 73 off 53 balls with the help of nine fours and a six.
Looking at the scorecard not many would believe that Gayle actually had a slow start to his innings after RCB were put into bat. He couldn't score in the first eight balls he faced, including a maiden from Umesh Yadav.
On his ninth delivery faced, he took a single and after Tillakaratne Dilshan (10) was caught by Irfan Pathan off Varun Aaron in 2.2 overs with the score at 11/1, Gayle let Kohli to bulk of the hitting.
RCB reached 42 for one after six overs and in the six overs of powerplay Gayle hadn't hit any sixes. After nine overs, Gayle and Kohli both stood at 27 runs off 25 and 23 deliveries respectively.
Kohli looked more at ease than his West Indian partner but little did anyone realise that he was only bidding his time for an opportune moment to explode. It came in the 13th over when Gayle lifted left-arm spinner Pawan Negi over the midwicket boundary.
Sixes galore
After completing his 50 off 37 deliveries, Gayle began to deal in sixes, hitting three in the 14th over, bowled by Pathan. When Negi returned to the attack in the 16th over, he was belted for three consecutive sixes by the left hander.
After slicing Yadav and Aaron for maximums over the point boundary, Gayle completed his century in 53 balls, his third tom in the tournament. Kohli also maintained a healthy scoring rate as he remained undefeated on 73 off 53 balls.
Once Gayle found his hitting range, Kohli was happy to play second fiddle. Together they plundered 16 boundaries and 14 sixes as Kohli hit one boundary after another while Gayle thrashed the bowlers over the ropes.
"The secret behind those sixes, good balance and it helps to have a pitch where the ball comes up to the bat, it is natural, trying not to move around, a couple of innings have me moving around which does not help," Gayle said after being named the player of the match.
"Thanks to Virat Kohli for his support at the other end. Maiden over is okay, as long as I am there till the end, it helps to get the runs."
"Exciting game of cricket, good pitch to bat on. Batting with Chris is a wonderful experience, a lot of them could have taken my head off at the non-striker's end, we need to win the last game to make it to the playoffs," Kohli said.