Royal Challengers Bangalore defeat Chennai Super Kings to keep playoffs hopes alive

Bangalore, May 19: A brilliant unbeaten 56 by skipper Virat Kohli and his 32-ball 67-run opening partnership with Chris Gayle (28) turned out to be a saving grace as Royal Challengers Bangalore ousted Chennai Super Kings by 24 runs in a rain-curtailed encounter at the M Chinnaswamy stadium to stay alive in the contention for the playoffs.

With the match being reduced to eight overs-a-side following a three-hour rain delay, pacer Zaheer Khan picked up a four-wicket haul as Chennai, in response RCB's 106, were left shattered, with a huge task at hand and ended at 82 for 6.

The victory, however, helped RCB regain the fourth slot in the points table, replacing Sunrisers Hyderabad with the teams sharing 18 points each and net run rate separating the two.

RCB's hopes of making it to the play-offs hinges on how Sunrisers finish their league against Kolkata Knight Riders at Hyderabad on Sunday.

Skipper Virat Kohli and Co can only hope that KKR would do them a favour by defeating SRH.