Sreesanth, Chawla restrict Bangalore to 143 for 8

Mohali, MAY 12 (UNI) Considered as a ''Test'' team, Bangalore Royal Challengers, led by Rahul Dravid, put up a figthing total of 143 for 8 in stipulated 20 overs against Kings XI Punjab in the 34th match of the DLF Indian Premier League at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here tonight.

Bangalore Royal Challengers captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat. Kings XI Punjab immediately got a success as medium pacer Sreesanth got opener Arun Kumar caught by Jayawardene at first slip with scoreboard reading four. Arun could contribute only one run from three balls. However, opener Virat Kohli and Pakistan batsman Misbah Ul Haq, who came in place of Chanderpal of West Indies, realised quick 32 runs for the second wicket stand.

Sreesanth, the most successive Kings XI Punjab bowler (3 for 29) broke this partnership. While playing a Sreesanth delivery, Misbah got out as his foot touched the stumps. Misbah contributed a quickfire 21 which included three fours and one six at long off.

Spinner Piyush Chawla, bowling his first over, was hit for two successive fours by Virat Kohli. However, Chawla had the last laught as he bowled Kohli who contributed 21 runs with four fours from 22 deliveries during this 31 minutes vigil at the wicket.

Bangalore Royal Challengers were three down for 49 after 5.3 overs. As Bangalore Royal Challengers were losing wickets at regular intervals, Mark Boucher played a 32-ball 39 which contained four fours and one six before his innings was terminated by Piyus Chawla who ran him out. Rahul Dravid was the second highest contributor with 29 runs from 26 balls. During his stay at the wicket for 37 runs, he hit two boundaries. Ifran Pathan ((1 for 23) bowled Dravid.

Sreesanth (3 for 29) and Piyush Chawla (2 foir 33) restricted Bangalore Royal Challengers for 143 for 8 in 98 minutes.

Kings XI Punjab had beaten Bangalore Royal Challengers by six wickets in their away match. Kings XI have won five matches out of eight they have played so far. Bangalore Royal Challengers have lost six matches out of eight so far.

Score board: Bangalore Royal Challengers: J Arunkumar c Jayawardene b Sreesanth 1 Virat Kohli b Chawla 21 Misbah-ul-Haq hit wicket b Sreesanth 21 Camrron White c&b Chawla 10 Rahul Dravid b Pathan 29 MV Boucher run out (Chawla) 39 Praveen Kumar b Sreesanth 5 Vinay Kumar b VRV Singh 1 Zaheer Khan not out 1 Anil Kumble not out 0 Extras (b 5, lb 2, w 8) 15 Total (8 wickets in 20 overs) 143.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-36, 3-49, 4-74, 5-102, 6-123, 7-129, 8-138.

Bowling S Sreesanth 4-0-29-3 Irfan Pathan 4-1-23-1 Piyush Chawla 4-0-33-2 VRV Singh 4-0-15-1 Yuvraj Singh 2-0-14-0 James Hopes 2-0-22-0.

UNI XC HS AM BD2305