RCB WIN BY 4 WICKETS, ENTER IPL FINAL

RCB 159-6 (18.2 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

Praveen to bowl the penultimate as AB takes a quiet single from the first ball before Abdulla flicks it through midwicket for two runs to take RCB to victory.

AB finishes unbeaten on a superb innings of 79 from 47 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes. He got good support from Abdulla, who made 33 from 25 balls, as the duo were involved in an unbroken stand of 91 runs from 52 balls for the seventh wicket to take their team to victory.

RCB win by four wickets with 10 deliveries to spare to storm into Sunday's IPL final.

Meanwhile, Gujarat will get another chance to make it to the final when they take on the winner of the Eliminator match (KKR vs Sunrisers) in the Qualifier 2 match on Friday.

A stunning comeback from RCB after being reduced to 29 for five at one stage with Kohli (0), Gayle (9), KL Rahul (0) and Watson (1) contributing just 10 runs between them.

RCB 156-6 (18 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

De Villiers trying everything in his armoury. This time he goes for the reverse sweep but fails to make connection as it strikes his pads and goes fine on the off-side for four leg byes.

The next ball is wide as AB throws his bat at it but is beaten as both the keeper and bowler appeal for caught behind which is turned down.

The next ball is a slower ball which strikes AB's pads before going to the keeper on the leg side but umpire Anil Chaudhary has given it a wide and bowler Bravo can't believe it. That was a shocking decision!

Abdulla shows his batting prowess as he hits Bravo for three boundaries in a row. A short ball is swung fine on the leg side before the left-hander edges the next over the keeper for boundaries.

The last ball is full and on the pads as Abdulla flicks it through the leg side for another boundary.

RCB are 156 for six in 18 overs with three needed from 12 balls for victory.

RCB 138-6 (17 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

The experienced Praveen comes back into the attack with the momentum firmly back in RCB's favour.

De Villiers in complete control at the moment as he swings Praveen over midwicket for a six. Two balls later, he reverse sweeps the pace bowler past point for a four.

He keeps the strike with a single from the last ball as Praveen goes for 12 runs in his third over.

AB has single-handedly turned the match on it's head, slamming 77 from 43 balls, with RCB reaching 138 for six in 17 overs, with another 21 needed from three overs for victory.

RCB 126-6 (16 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

Jakati is having a poor day with the ball. AB makes him suffer more punishment as he sweeps him behind square on the leg side for a six.

Jakati then bowls a full toss which Abdulla swings over midwicket for the second six of the over, which goes for 16 runs.

Jakati has been taken to the cleaners, conceding 45 runs in his three overs as RCB take their score to 126 for six in 16 overs, with another 33 needed from four overs for victory.

RCB 110-6 (15 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

Abdulla survives a huge appeal for caught behind against Bravo and rightly so. A tidy over from the West Indian, giving way just four runs to build up the pressure with 63 needed from six overs for victory.

Abdulla has a wild swing to a wide delivery from Dwayne Smith but fails to make connection. Immediately, captain Kohli signals from the dugout to Abdulla to quietly take the single and bring AB back on strike.

He takes one from the next ball before AB smashes the third ball straight down the ground pat mid-on for a four to race to his 50, from 31 balls.

AB has a wild swing at the next ball but fails to make proper connection and just about manages to clear Finch at long-off to get a six.

The South African swats at a short ball as Bravo makes a superb stop at long-on, running to his right to keep it down to one.

The gamble of bringing in part-timer Smith fails as he goes for 14 runs in his first  over with RCB reaching 110 for six in 15 overs, needing 49 from five overs for victory.

RCB 92-6 (13 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

Jakati, who was smashed for 18 runs in his first over, goes for more runs in his next over. Infact, it is all his own doing as he bowls a high full toss to Iqbal Abdulla, who is ruled a no-ball for height.

AB makes most of three hit as he smashes it straight down the ground for a six as 11 runs come from the 11th over.

Dwayne Bravo comes into the attack. Three singles from the first three balls before AB drives a half-volley through the covers for a four followed by one.

Jadeja finishes off his spell with a tight over, giving away three runs, to finish with two for 21 in four overs.

AB is unbeaten on 45 from 30 balls as RCB reach 92 for six in 13 overs, needing 67 from seven overs for victory.

RCB 70-6 (10 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

Kulkarni will finish off as he comes on to bowl his fourth and final over on the trot. RCB have another close shave as a big misunderstanding between AB and Stuart Binny nearly sees a run out but Jadeja misses the direct hit from point.

De Villiers gets an inside edge off Jakati as it beats the wicketkeeper and goes for three runs to bring up RCB's 50, in the ninth over.

Binny comes down the track and slices Jakati over the point region for a four. He gets down on one knee and sweeps the spinner past short fine leg for another four.

Jakata under pressure as he bowls a leg side wide before Binny comes down the track and lofts the spinner back over his head for a straight six to bring RCB fans back to life at the M Chinnaswamy stadium.

Jadeja comes back and claims the wicket of Binny, who goes for the sweep but this time he misses and is trapped leg before wicket for 21.

At the halfway stage, RCB are struggling on 70 for six in 10 overs, with another 89 needed from 10 overs for victory. RCB's hopes rest on AB, who is batting on 29 from 20 balls with only the tailenders for support.

RCB 31-5 (6 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

The wickets continue to tumble for RCB. This time it is Ravindra Jadeja who strikes in his first over as Watson gets the toe end of the bat which is caught by Smith in the slips, diving forward.

Watson walks back for one as RCB slip to 28 for four in five overs.

There is no stopping Kulkarni, who bags another wicket in his next over. Left-hander Sachin Baby goes for the big drive through the off-side but ends up hitting it straight into the hands of the fielder in the covers to fall for a duck.

That was an unnecessary shot under the circumstances as RCB slip to 29 for five, in the sixth over with AB de Villiers watching the drama from the other end.

AB gets a thick outside edge off the last ball which goes to thirdman for one.

RCB 25-3 (4 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

AB de Villiers is keen to get going straightaway as he smashes a length ball from Praveen straight down the ground over long-off for a six followed by two more singles.

It has started to drizzle in Bengaluru but the game continues as the rain is too light at the moment to cause any disturbance.

Kulkarni strikes again in his second over, this time with another big wicket. Gayle also falls in the same fashion as his captain Kohli, as he drives away from his boundary but ends up dragging it back on to his stumps to be dismissed for nine.

Kulkarni makes it worse for RCB as he dismissed KL Rahul off the very next ball, getting him caught in the slips for a first-ball duck.

Shane Watson avoids the hat-trick and also sees off the rest of the over.

A double-wicket maiden for Kulkarni, who has superb figures of three for five in two overs with RCB struggling on 25 for three in four overs.

RCB 17-1 (2 ovs) vs Gujarat 158 | Scorecard

The in-form duo of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli will open the batting for RCB, chasing a target of 159, which should be easy pickings for the hosts given the way they have batted in the last few games.

Veteran Praveen Kumar to open the bowling for Gujarat, who will be looking at a few early wickets to get their way back into the match.

The first ball is a wide down the leg side to Gayle, who nudges the next ball fine for a four to get off the mark.

The wicketkeeper comes up to the stumps for Gayle as Praveen bowls another big wide down the leg side for five extra runs.

Praveen bowls another one on the pads which flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

A good start for RCB as they get 11 from the first over, without making kuch effort with the bat.

Dhawal Kulkarni comes on from the other end and he strikes in his very first over with the big, big wicket of Kohli.

The in-form RCB captain plays away from his body but only manages to edge it back on to his stumps to be dismissed for a two-ball duck.

The entire stadium is stunned into silence as Kohli makes his way back after suffering a rare failure in the last few months.

AB de Villiers gets off the mark with a single as the fielder on the off-side fails to stop it cleanly.

Gayle is then struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Kulkarni. He mishits the last ball of the over and somehow gets it over the fielder at mid-off, as it goes for a four.

A superb first over from Kulkarni as he brings his team right back into the contest with the early dismissal of Kohli.

Gujarat 158-all out (20 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Jordan to bowl the final over of the innings. Two singles from the first two balls before Praveen Kumar has a wild swing but fails to make connection and is bowled for one.

Kulkarni is run out off the final ball as he looks for the second run but fails to make his crease in time.

Gujarat Lions are bowled out for 158 in their 20 overs with Watson claiming four for 29 in his four overs, while Jordan picked and Abdulla picked two wickets each.

Dwayne Smith, who smashed 73 from 41 balls. was instrumental in rallying Gujarat to this fighting score after they were reduced to nine for three at one stage.

Gujarat 154-8 (19 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Jordan to bowl the 18th over. He misses the yorker and ends up bowling a full toss which Bravo drives through the covers for a four. Two balls later, Dwivedi gets four leg byes as 12 runs come from the over.

Watson to bowl the penultimate over. Dwivedi comes down the track and lofts the first ball over the off-side for a six and then pulls the next ball over midwicket for another six.

Watson gets his man as Dwivedi goes for another big shot but this time fails to make proper connection as Kohli does well at long-on to take a low catch diving forward.

The umpires initially had given it not out before a furious Kohli walks all the way up to them and asks why they had not given it out. It is finally referred to the third umpire who rules that Kohli has taken the catch cleanly to send back Dwivedi, who played a good hand of 19 from nine balls.

It turns out to be quite a dramatic over from Watson. He comes from round the wicket and bowls Bravo, who swings across the line but fails to make connection and is bowled for eight.

Two sixes followed by two wickets, Watson is turning it on.

Watson misses the hat-trick as he bowls a wide, trying the slower bouncer against Dhawal Kulkarni.

Kulkarni swats the next ball over midwicket as Kohli makes another valiant effort but fails to stop the ball despite a full length drive as it goes for a four. Kulkarni then lofts the last ball over the off-side for another four.

Despite the two wickets, Watson has ended up giving 21 runs in his final over to finish with four for 29 in his four overs.

This was how Watson's final over went. 6 6 W W Wd 4 4

Gujarat 121-6 (17 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Despite the regular fall of wickets from the other end, there is no stopping Smith. Leg-spinner Chahal floats one up as Smith crashes it over midwicket for a six.

However, Chahal gets revenge off the very next ball as Smith holes out straight into the hands of Kohli at long-on to walk back after a superb innings of 73 from 41 balls, having hit five fours and six sixes.

Chahal did well to bowl it wide and despite bowling it short, Smith was unable to get maximum power as he had to reach out for it.

That is a very big wicket for RCB and they would be looking to bundle out Gujarat for well below the 150-run mark.

New batsman Eklavya Dwivedi gets off the mark with a four, sweeping Chahal fine on the leg side with the paddle sweep.

Not a good day with the ball for Chahal, who went for 42 runs in his four overs, but ended his spell with the big wicket of Smith.

Gujarat 108-5 (16 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Aravind, who bowled well with the new ball, comes back. He bowls a freebie to Smith, a full toss on the pads which the West Indian despatches over square leg for a six to take Gujarat past the 100-run mark, in the 15th over.

A good over for Gujarat as Aravind concedes 10 in his third over.

Experienced pacer Watson comes back for a new spell. He cripples Gujarat further with the wicket of Jadeja, who is caught at point for three. Another sharp catch from the tall West Indian, who does well to take a low catch to his left as Jadeja flays his bat at a wide full delivery.

Watson is having a good day with the ball, having taken two for eight in two overs with Gujarat slipping to 108 for five in 16 overs.

Gujarat 94-4 (14 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Jordan makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Karthik, who looks to paddle it but ends up guiding it back on to his leg stump.

Karthik made 26, as he added 85 runs from 61 balls for the fourth wicket with Smith to rally Gujarat after a few early wickets.

That wicket will dent Gujarat's hopes of posting a total around the 150-mark, but they still have a few more batsmen to come, who are capable of scoring runs quickly including Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo.

Gujarat 89-3 (13 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Smith continues to be positive against Chahal. The leg-spinner seems to have bowled a good over, conceding just two singles from five balls, before Smith pulls the last ball over midwicket for a six.

Karthik also steps up a gear as he sweeps Abdulla through square leg for a four. A few delivers later, Smith swings a full delivery across the line through midwicket for another four. He lofts the next ball straight, and again it looks to be a mishit but it carries all the way over long-on for a six.

That six helps Smith race to his half-century from just 31 balls as Gujarat recover to 89 for three in 13 overs.

Gujarat 64-3 (11 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Following the first time out, Smith looks to cut loose as he goes after leg-spinner Chahal.

He lofts the first ball of the 10th over straight back over the bowler's head for a six. Two balls later, he slams it again straight over the bowler's head but this time it goes for a four followed by two singles. He edges the last ball which stays lows and goes between the wicketkeeper's legs for another four.

16 runs from Chahal's second over takes Gujarat to 58 for three in 10 overs.

Smith races to 37 from 24 balls, while Karthik is watchful on 12 from 17 balls.

Abdulla comes back as RCB keep shuffling their bowlers. Karthik sweeps the first ball fine on the leg side for his first boundary but Gujarat can only get two singles from the rest of the over.

Gujarat 42-3 (9 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Fast bowler Chris Jordan comes into the attack. He starts with a wide down the leg side to Karthik, who then gets a leg bye.

Smith looks to adopt a positive approach as he pulls a short ball from Jordan over the fine leg fence for a six followed by two singles as 10 come from the seventh over.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, the Purple Cap holder, comes into the attack. Smith tries for a big shot down the ground but gets it off the outside half of the bat, which falls safe on the off-side.

He also gets a leading edge off the last ball but again it falls away from the fielders as Chahal starts with a good testing over.

Smith is living on the edge. He comes down the track to Stuart Binny, who bowls a short ball and Smith takes his eye off the ball before swatting it across the line on the leg side for one.

Gujarat are struggling after the early wickets as they reach 42 for three in nine overs.

Gujarat 23-3 (6 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Abdulla comes back, replacing Aravind, who bowled an excellent spell with the new ball.

Two singles from the second and third delivery before Smith releases some pressure with two successive boundaries.

On both occasions, Abdulla dropped short before Dwayne Smith took toll, hitting fours on both sides of the wicket as Gujarat struggle to 20 for three in five overs.

Watson bowls another tight over, giving away three runs. He has given just four runs in his two overs, while picking up a wicket as Gujarat struggle to 23 for three in the six overs of Powerplay.

Gujarat 9-3 (4 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Dinesh Karthik turns Aravind on the leg side for a single before Raina is beaten by one as he throws his bat at a wide one. He takes a single from the fifth ball as just two runs come from the third over. Aravind has held his own well from his end, building the pressure with two tight overs, conceding just three runs.

Abdulla is taken off despite two wickets in his first over as he makes way for Shane Watson.

Watson also strikes in his first over. And not surprising that it is the short ball which causes the downfall of Raina, who looks to pull but is caught  by Aravind at short fine leg.

Raina walks back for one as Gujarat slip to nine for three, in the fourth over.

Dwayne Smith gets off the mark with a single from the last ball of the over.

Gujarat 7-2 (2 ovs) vs RCB | Scorecard

Left-arm pacer Sreenath Aravind to open the bowling for hosts RCB. And up against him are the two most dangerous batsmen in world cricket - Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum.

Finch defends the first two balls before he gets Gujarat off the mark with a leg bye. McCullum is watchful as he also takes a single off the last ball of the over to retain strike.

Spin from the other end as left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla is called into the attack to bowl the second over.

He strikes with his very first delivery, with the key wicket of McCullum. The Kiwi right-hander came down the track and looked to attack the spinner  but ended up holing out to AB de Villiers at long-off to fall for one.

Finch will not hold back despite the early wicket as he slashes at one but gets a thick edge which flies over Chris Gayle for a boundary.

Two balls later, Abdulla strikes again as Finch gets an inside edge and is caught by Gayle at first slip, for four.

A dream first over from Abdulla to leave Gujarat reeling on seven for two after two overs.

As Gujarat Lions captain Suresh Raina admitted that it would be important to get Virat Kohli out early.

He scored centuries in both the league matches against Gujarat Lions, with both teams winning a game each.

Gujarat triumphed in the first game between the two teams when they won by six wickets, despite Kohli scoring 100 from 63 balls.

In the second head-to-head match, Kohli smashed 109 from 55 balls while AB de Villiers made 129 from 52 balls as RCB amassed a massive 248 to win by a huge margin of 144 runs.

RCB captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bowl against Gujarat Lions at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.

Interestingly, both teams have retained the same playing eleven from the previous match and opted to stick with the same team.

RCB's run-machine Virat Kohli is on the verge of another cricketing record. With the right-hander set to eclipse the 1,000 runs' barrier, Rajneesh Gupta presents the top scorers in a series/tournament and the run-machine's performance in IPL-9.
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Welcome to the coverage of the first qualifier of the Indian Premier League between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Lions in Bengaluru, on Tuesday.

The winner of the match will advance to the IPL final on May 29, while the loser gets another opportunity to make it to the title match, when they take on the winner of the Eliminator match in the Qualifier 2 match.

Powered by in-form, inspirational leader in Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore would be eyeing their maiden IPL title triumph.

RCB were in a real spot of bother as they needed to win their last four games to make it to the play-offs. With Kohli leading from the front despite an injury, RCB recorded four consecutive wins to finish the league engagements at the second spot.

RCB finished the preliminary round with 16 points from 14 games, just behind leaders Gujarat Lions, who garnered 18 from 14 matches.

RCB would look to carry their winning momentum for two more matches and ensure that they better their runners-up finish in the 2009 and 2011 seasons.

The last time RCB squared up against Gujarat at home, they recorded the biggest ever (144-run) victory in the history of IPL. AB de Villiers (129 not out) and Virat Kohli (109) went on a rampage in that game and scored magnificent centuries.

And come Tuesday, the Bangalore outfit will once again fancy their chances on home turf.

The biggest hero for RCB this season has been skipper Kohli, who is perhaps enjoying the best phase of his batting career.

Kohli has so far amassed a record 919 runs in the ongoing IPL with four centuries and six fifties at a staggering average of 91.90.