Aiyappa 'trick does it for RCB

The feature of their victory was Virat Kohli’s fifty and a five-wicket haul including a hat-trick (3-0-13-5) by paceman NC Aiyappa. The Bangalore side will face Cape Cobras in the opening fixture of the Champions League at the M Chinnaswamy stadium.

However, Cobras, the top club side from South Africa, made a less than satisfactory beginning as they tied their practice match against Karnataka XI, for whom B Akhil starred with an all-round performance. Both the teams will play one more round of preparatory matches on Tuesday.

RCB will face Karnataka XI while Cobras will take on a State side at the IAF grounds.
The Trinidad and Tobago team, which arrived in the City on Sunday, stayed back in the hotel on the day and the West Indian side, marshalled by former opener Darren Ganga, will have a training session on Tuesday afternoon. In their first match, T&T will lock horns with English side Somerset, to be led by former Australian opener Justin Langer, here on October 12.

Meanwhile, RCB skipper Anil Kumble said his side will try hard to win the Champions League. “We played well in the Indian Premier League but failed to win it. But the players and I are hoping to win the Champions League,” Kumble said during a function.

RCB CEO Brijesh Patel asserted that his team will play “positive and attractive cricket with only victory in their mind.” Children from City-based NGO ‘New Hope’ garlanded the players and also placed a ‘tilak’ on the foreheads of the players. All the players were present except Rahul Dravid, who had other commitments.

The organisers, meanwhile, said that the ticket sale had picked up nicely and that they excepted a bigger response in the next two days. “With still two days left for the event, we are hoping to see a sell-out for the opening match,” an official said.