Boucher bails out Bangalore

Mark Boucher © Getty Images

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Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis provided the late fireworks to guide Bangalore Royal Challengers to a last-over victory against Mumbai Indians.

The South Africans added 55 off 31 balls for the fifth wicket to carry the Royal Challengers to their first win of the competition following their opening night defeat by Kolkata Knight Riders.

Robin Uthappa (48 from 38 balls) had formed the backbone of the Mumbai innings before Shaun Pollock’s late cameo (28 from 12) helped them to 165 for six at the Wankhede Stadium.

After a solid start to their reply, the game threatened to drift away from the visitors, until Boucher and Kallis combined to take 19 from the 18th over, bowled by Ashish Nehra, to leave them requiring just 11 runs from the final two overs.

Kallis fell to a superb catch from Abhishek Nayar in the next over, but Boucher remained to ensure victory by five wickets.

With Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar unable to take his place due to a groin injury, Harbhajan Singh stepped into his role, winning the toss and electing to bat.

Sanath Jayasuriya hit 18 off the fifth over of the match, bowled by Kallis, but his onslaught was cut short in the next over when Zaheer Khan ran him out for 29 from 16 balls.

Uthappa then took command of the innings, hitting five fours and a six until he was stumped by Boucher off Balachandra Akhil.

That paved the way for some late over hitting and Pollock obliged with three fours and two sixes during his brief stay.

After capitulating to 82 all out in their run-chase against Kolkata on Friday, the visitors began their reply in positive fashion.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit consecutive boundaries to take 10 from Nehra’s opening over.

Top-order contributions from Chanderpaul (16), Rahul Dravid (32) and Ross Taylor (23) set a solid foundation for the hosts, but with four overs remaining they still required 40 for victory.

That set the scene for Kallis (25 from 24 balls) and Boucher (39 from 19) to open their shoulders, highlighted by a massive six from the wicketkeeper-batsman off Nehra which landed on the roof of the main stand.