Bengaluru, May 25: AB de Villiers' calm and composed innings along with Iqbal Abdullah guided the Royal Challengers Bangalore to a four-wicket victory against Gujarat Lions in the first qualifier of IPL match on Tuesday at the Chinnaswami stadium here.
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With this win, the Royal Challengers Bangalore entered the final of Indian Premier League 2016.
Gujarat Lions bowler Dhawal Kulkarni ripped apart RCB top order, castling both the openers Virat Kohli for duck and Chris Gayle nine.
Three Royal Challengers batsmen suffered duck-out fate, Kohli, Rahul and Baby. But it was the grit and valiance of the South African which ensured Gujarat Lions remain on the losing side.
(Great honour and privilege to be in IPL final: AB de Villiers)
Saluting his team mate and idol's inspirational innings (when the chips were down), RCB skipper Virat Kohli said this ends the debate about who's the best.
"I think this should settle the debate about who is the best in the world. Come the big game, the big man steps up. I just bow down to him (Ab de Villiers). Probably one of the best knocks under pressure I have seen. I'm happy for him and the team," an overwhelmed Virat Kohli said during post match presentation.
"We have played good cricket to the play-offs. I could see the opposition was worried about him, what he can do at the end of the innings," he further added.
RCB scored 159/6 to snatch the victory from the Lions with 10 balls to spare and de Villiers remained unbeaten on 79 along with Abdullah 33.
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