Uthappa sets up Bangalore's victory

It took 80 deliveries for Royal Challengers Bangalore to seize the initiative. From the time their talisman opener Jacques Kallis was bowled for 19 in 4.4 overs, ending a splendid run of four unbeaten innings, the home side struggled to overcome Chennai Super Kings' bowlers. Then came the penultimate over that cost 24 runs, including three successive sixes from Robin Uthappa, and that switched the complexion of the innings. Dropped on 5 and 25, Uthappa slammed a half-century to propel Royal Challengers Bangalore to 171 for 5 when at one stage 150 looked difficult.

Three average overs allowed Bangalore gain some ground. Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa took eight runs off Morkel; Uthappa was dropped by R Ashwin at deep cover in an 11-run 12th over; eight runs came off the next. Kohli was given a life by Parthiv Patel, struck a six, and was then stumped by Parthiv. Uthappa pummeled Morkel for six but was dropped by M Vijay at long-on the very next ball. Eoin Morgan perished in the same over.

Then came the decisive over, after Uthappa swatted Ashwin for six to get some drive. First ball of the penultimate over he drove Balaji through cover for four, only to dump the next three over the ropes. It was stunning hitting; high backlift, full use of the wrists, maximum result. Two more sixes followed in the final over, one by Uthappa and one by Mark Boucher, and their unbeaten 52-run stand off 19 balls left Chennai looking perplexed, wondering where it had all gone wrong.