Kallis leads Bangalore home

Jacques Kallis guides Bangalore to a nine-wicket win over Mumbai Indians with 11 balls to spare in Johannesburg

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An unbroken century stand between Jacques Kallis and Robin Uthappa helped Bangalore Royal Challengers romp to a nine-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League in Johannesburg.

Chasing 150 for victory, the pair were ruthless after coming together in the third over, blasting the Mumbai attack to all parts of the Wanderers as they finished with 69 and 66 respectively to end the game with 11 balls to spare.

Earlier, Dillon du Preez claimed three wickets on his IPL debut to help restrict the Indians, who had half-centuries from Sanath Jayasuriya (52) and Dwayne Bravo (50 not out) to thank for helping them post a competitive total.

In response, Bangalore were off to a steady start with Kallis and Wasim Jaffer reaching 24, before the Indian opener clipped a simple catch to Abhishek Nayar off Zaheer Khan for seven.

Lasith Malinga was introduced in the next over to try and snuff out another breakthrough, but for the first time in the tournament he was punished up front, going for 17 in his first over, including two sixes by Kallis.

He came back with a maiden in his next over but Uthappa joined Kallis and the pair reached the halfway stage with a 50 partnership in seven overs, leaving the Challengers at 74 for one.

After the resumption, the South Africa all-rounder moved to his half-century in 39 balls, but Mumbai did not help their chances when JP Duminy dropped him at backward point.

Uthappa then himself crossed the 50-mark in 36 deliveries, followed by the 100 stand in 77 balls.

They eventually finished the game with a single off Malinga in the penultimate over, ending the game with their partnership unbroken at 126.

Earlier, paceman du Preez was the star man in the attack, drawing edges to slip from Sachin Tendulkar (11) and Ajinkya Rahane (nought) off his third and fourth deliveries respectively as he began with a double-wicket maiden.

In his next over, the South African drew a wild swing from Duminy (one) to leave Mumbai at 23 for three in the sixth over.

But Jayasuriya and Bravo began to rebuild the innings and did so impressively with a 50 partnership that came up in 45 balls, followed by the former raising his half-century in 39 deliveries.

Mumbai, though, were still looking like posting a mediocre score after reaching just 83 in 14 overs.

Roelof van der Merwe then came in and ended Jayasuriya’s 43-ball stay when he had the Sri Lankan, who was trying to up the tempo, caught by Vinay Kumar running in from deep midwicket.

However, Nayar (29no) came in and shared an unbroken 66-run stand in 35 balls with Bravo, who brought up his 50 in 40 balls, as Mumbai ended with 149 for four, a total that proved to be well below par.