Bopara leads Kings XI to victory

Ravi Bopara opens his shoulders during his fine innings of 84 for Kings XI Punjab against Bangalore Royal Challengers

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Ravi Bopara compiled a superb half-century to give Kings XI Punjab their first 2009 IPL victory - against Bangalore Royal Challengers in Durban.

The England all-rounder racked up a total of 84 as Kevin Pietersen’s Bangalore were consigned to a seven-wicket defeat, their third consecutive loss.

Pietersen had a less successful day at the crease, being dismissed for a duck after Bangalore had elected to bat first.

A Jacques Kallis knock of 62 boosted the Challengers innings, but the Punjab bowlers had laid the groundwork for their batsmen, Yusuf Abdulla taking four wickets and Irfan Pathan three as Bangalore were restricted to 168.

Bopara and his opening partner Karan Goel made a cautious start to the chase, scoring only 44 off the first six overs with Bopara's pull off Kallis at the start of the seventh over the first six of the innings.

Goel fell soon after on 52 and the batsmen that followed, Kumar Sangakkara and Yuvraj Singh, also paced, rather than pushed their innings.

But Bopara sprung to life in the 16th over, scoring 19 runs, and after he was dismissed by Kallis, Yuvraj reached the target with a straight six, clinically concluding the chase with an over to spare.

Bangalore's openers failed to put a partnership together with Robin Uthappa caught in the second over, but Jesse Ryder did get off the mark and Kallis came in to form a handy partnership for several overs.

Abdulla wrecked their momentum though, bowling Ryder and drawing Pietersen into spooning a catch to cover two balls later.

Rahul Dravid only contributed 10 runs but with the innings beginning to flounder at 73 for four, Kallis took charge, hitting Yuvraj Singh's left-arm offerings through cover.

Ross Taylor also found his rhythm and the pair swiftly added 61 before Abdulla returned to dismiss Kallis.

Taylor continued to attack but eventually became Abdulla's fourth wicket after making 35.

Pathan picked up quick wickets towards the close and Bangalore finished on 168.