CLT20: Last-ball six takes RCB into semis

Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore scripted a dramatic entry into the semi-finals of the CLT20 when Arun Karthik hit a six off the last ball while chasing a mammoth 215 set by South Australia Redbacks here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.
The tormentors-in-chief for the Redbacks, though, were Virat Kohli (70) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (74) who put on a 100-run partnership after a not-out century from Daniel Harris (108) had propelled the visitors to a mammoth total.
In a roller-coaster match, Dilshan and Chris Gayle gave the hosts the best possible start, adding 65 runs off the first 6.1overs befre Gayle fell to Daniel Christian, but the steepler caused Redbacks captain Michael Klinger and Tom Cooper to collide even though Klinger held on to the catch.

Dilshan continued with Kohli and the pair pummeled the Redbacks' attack to all corners of the park for a 100-run partnership within nine overs before Kohli became Shaun Tait's first victim for 70. Kohli faced 36 balls and hit four boundaries and hity six sixes out of the park.
Dilshan continued on the quest, but the wickets kept tumbling around him as Shaun Tait found his radar, and dismissed Saurabh Tiwary, followed by the in-form Dilshan (74) with 15 runs still needed off 11 balls.
Tait was not finished, and he also got rid of Daniel Vettori and Raju Bhatkal in the 19th over to finish with 5/32 and give the South Australian team hope to still salvage a victory.
However, Sreenath Aravind made up for his woeful bowling by scooping a four over the wicketkeeper, running a bye and Arun Karthik hit the winning six off the final ball to see the Redbacks crashing out of the competition.

Earlier electing to bat, the Australian outfit made a mockery of the hapless RCB bowlers to post the highest total in the tournament. The Redbacks have four points and need a victory to take the top slot.
The last six overs produced 92 runs with Sreenath Aravind being hit for 69 runs in his four over spell. The manner in which the left-arm seamer was hit all over the park may seriously dent his chances of making it to the playing XI against England.
For the Australian side, Harris was the star of the innings.
The right hander took charge from the word go with his audacious strokes that stunned the RCB bowlers. His magnificent innings was laced with 17 hits to the fence and two sixes one of which was the one which helped him reach his maiden T20 ton.

Ferguson was equally brilliant at the other end, scoring a 43-ball 70, studded with four boundaries and three sixes.
After losing skipper Michael Klinger (7), Harris joined hands with Ferguson as the second wicket pair stitched a belligerent century partnership of 114 runs coming off only 75 balls.
Harris showed no respect to RCB's left arm seamer Dirk Nannes, hitting him for four consecutive boundaries taking 18 runs in the process. He was particularly severe on Arvind, creaming 28 runs in two overs.
For RCB, Syed Mohammad and Rajoo Bhatkal claimed a wicket apiece.


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