Kolhi's assault helps Bangalore outclass Kolkata

Virat Kohli thumped his eighth fifty-plus score in the Indian Twenty20 competition, as Bangalore thrashed Kolkata by nine wickets at Eden Gardens on Monday.

Kohli won the toss and opted to bowl first on a Kolkata surface that showed glimpses of dampness. Bangalore drafted in an extra spinner - in Iqbal Abdulla - to exploit the pitch. But, the ploy didn't really pay dividends as Kolkata cruised to 87 for one in ten overs.

Captain Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey helped their side recover after they lost in form opener Robin Uthappa in just the third over of the match. The Gambhir-Pandey combine added 76 runs in 8.1 overs and provided the platform for a late onslaught. Andre Russell and Shakib Al Hasan provided the late fireworks that helped the hosts post 183 in their innings. Russell remained unbeaten on a 19-ball 39 and Hasan a 11-ball 18.

Kolkata hoped playing at home would work to their favour. However, they came up against Kohli and Chris Gayle, who made his first really substantial contribution of the season. Gayle provided the early venom and thumped five fours and four sixes in his 31-ball 49. The left-hander was finally trapped lbw by Sunil Narine in the eighth over.

His dismissal brought AB de Villiers and Kohli together. The duo was cautious at times but picked boundaries regularly. Kohli was particularly aggressive against Russell and Piyush Chawla. Kolkata compounded its own woes when Gambhir dropped Kohli, on 32, at backward point in the 11th over. Kohli made them pay for the error and clubbed five fours and three sixes in his 51-ball 75 that guided Bangalore home in 18.4 overs. Bangalore is now fifth in the table with six wins and six losses.

"It was a tricky chase because the wicket was a bit sticky. I knew I had to stay in. We spoke about that. Again, with AB coming out and taking the chase along with me, it feels wonderful," Kohli said. "We haven't always played well in Kolkata, but it feels great that we'll carry this win to Bangalore."

"You asked me two games back how we love the situation we find ourselves in, and I told you we love it. There are no room for errors. We have momentum at the right time now, we just want to continue it. I told ABD we have to take the team home and he responded saying 'Yes, we will.'"