cricketrulz

JP Duminy dazzled with the bat with a blistering unbeaten 99 to guide Cape Cobras to a five-wicket victory Royal Challengers Bangalore in the high-scoring opening Group C match of the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament here on Thursday.

Not a single Bangalore bowler was saved from Duminy's pyrotechnics as the left-hander struck eight fours and five sixes in his scintillating 52-ball knock to power the South African side home with two balls to spare.

Apart from Duminy, Henry Davids (27 off 21) and Ryan Canning (20 off 18) were the other notable scorers for Cobras.

Praveen Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for Bangalore, picking up three wickets for 32 runs.

Earlier, Robin Uthappa made a brisk 51 off 39 balls while Taylor scored an unbeaten 53 off 24 deliveries to help Royal Challengers post a formidable 180 on the board.

Cobras' run chase got off to horrendous start as Praveen Kumar found the outside edge of Herschelle Gibbs' (0) bat in the last ball of the opening over.

Skipper Andrew Puttick became Praveen's next casualty as he found a thick edge and Virat Kohli did the rest.

Then Davids (27 off 21) and JP Duminy stabilised the Protea side innings with a 48-run third wicket stand before Davids fell prey to first change R Vinay Kumar, caught by Kohli just after hitting the bowler for back-to-back fours.