Royal Challengers Bangalore thrashed Delhi Daredevils by eight wickets in Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday to ensure there is no Indian presence in the semi-finals of the inaugural Champions League Twenty20.
The Anil Kumble-led outfit, having been eliminated before they took the field following the Cape Cobras win over Victiria Bushrangers, ended their campaign on a positive notice.
Ross Taylor smashed a belligerent 38-ball 65 that ensured him the man-of-the-match award and his team, the consolation win.
Chasing a moderate 139 to win, Bangalore had to endure a couple of early setbacks before cruising home.
The home team lost openers Manish Pandey to injury (a muscle pull) and Robin Uthappa to a miscued pull of Dirk Nannes to Amit Mishra before Taylor took matters under his control.
The New Zealand batsman had some fortune when Ashish Nehra dropped a sitter when he was on 18.
The miss proved costly as by the time Nannes accounted for Taylor, the batsman had done his job, and done well at that.
The hosts' cruised home with a whopping 29 balls remaining.
Bangalore made a subdued start not wanting to take risk against Delhi opening bowlers Ashish Nehra and Dirk Nannes, who bowled consistently above 150 km per hour.
But, New Zealander Taylor was in a punishing mood. He showed his intentions clear by hitting three fours off Glenn McGrath in the fifth over.
The actual run riot, however, began from towards the midway mark as he hit boundaries almost at will before he was out off Nannes for 65 in the 14th over. He hit six fours and four sixes in his 38-ball stay at the crease.
Taylor was though given life twice when he was on 18 and 32 -- the first by Nehra and then by Rajat Bhatia off his own bowling and Delhi had to pay a price for their mistakes.
The Kiwi hit two consecutive sixes off Amit Mishra in the 12th over and raised his 50 from just 29 balls from one such hit over the rope.
Bangalore were 68 for one after the 10th over but the run riot by Taylor and latter by Dravid, who made unbeaten 32 off 26 balls (3X4; 1X6) and Virat Hohli, whose unbeaten 24 from 10 balls included five fours, ensured that Bangalore reach 139 in 15.1 overs.
Dravid ended the match in style hitting Nehra for a six.
For Delhi, Nannes took two wickets for 19 from his four overs.
Earlier, Kumble, who celebrated his 39th birthday today, was instrumental in putting brakes on Delhi Daredevils who were on to a rollicking start after he put the opposition in after winning the toss.
For Delhi, Virender Sehwag top-scored with an explosive innings of 47 which he made from 29 balls with the help of four fours and a six. Dilshan contributed 20.
Delhi openers Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were intent to make Kumble pay for his decision by hitting a torrent of boundaries in the first five overs.
The Delhi duo struck seven fours in the first five overs to take the score to 47 for no loss with Sehwag, who hit three consecutive boundaries off Praveen Kumar, contributing 31.
Sehwag struck two more fours off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fourth over but lost his opening partner Gambhir two overs later, edging a Dale Steyn delivery to Mark Boucher for 11.
Delhi lost way after the midway mark and once Sehwag was out in the 10th over, they failed to put up any worthwhile partnership.
Sehwag was going strong when he was out, holing out to Manish Pandey off Roelof van der Merwe at 77 for two.
Two wickets fell quickly, both claimed by birthday boy Kumble, which reduced Delhi to 91 for four in the 13th over.
Kumble introduced himself in 11th over and in his third ball dismissed Dinesh Karthik (2). Two overs later, he caught Dilshan off his own bowling to reduce Delhi to 91 for 4.
Owais Shah (17) and Manoj Tiwary (11) could not contribute much.
