Awesome Kallis stars in massive RCB win

Challengers crush Volts to enter League Phase

It was a must-win game for RCB, and Kallis responded to the call first with a dual-natured unbeaten 73 (59b, 4x4, 2x6) and then with a fiery spell with the new ball. The Pinelands-born player led RCB to a formidable 188 for two, and then bagged three wickets as  the Volts were shot out for 108.

However, it was Robin Uthappa started the fireworks with an array of strokes against Neil Wagner and Nathan McCullum through the cover and mid-wicket regions. As usual, Uthappa adopted the gung-ho approach right from the word go as RCB went off the blocks like a Ferrari.

Kallis was more than happy to bide his time, his fifty coming in 46 balls, and allow his younger partner to take charge of the situation as the duo realised 75 runs in just over nine overs before Aaron Redmond jettisoned Uthappa.

By then, RCB had already reached a position from where they could dictate the course of the game. From this point, Kallis shed his passive attitude and opened up with ferocity in the company of an equally run-thirsty minded companion in Virat Kohli, the twin assault giving the RCB run-rate further momentum.

Kallis’ experience came to the fore at this juncture as he slipped into the role of aggressor with ease and there was a flurry of shots to the fence and over it. The Protean, owner of more than 20,000 international runs, took command as the second-wicket alliance produced 59 runs in 38 balls. The rollicking stand came to an end when Kohli holed out in the deep off Wagner.

But the dismissal brought no respite to Volts as Ross Taylor played a brutal cameo, adding 54 off 23 balls with man of the match Kallis, to take the RCB total well past the grasp of the New Zealand outfit.

Taylor was in brilliant hitting form, carrying on from the previous game, as he smashed three sixes and a four in the final over the RCB innings, bowled jointly by Ian Butler and Warren McSkimming which yielded 25 runs and put the issue well and truly beyond the Otago Volts’ batting line-up.

The Volts’ hopes of making a fist of the target rested entirely upon Brendon McCullum but Kallis ended those desires when he ousted the hard-hitting Kiwi. McCullum’s attempt to hoist Kallis out of the park ended in the hands of Anil Kumble at mid-on.

The return of McCullum, perhaps, spread panic in the Volts’ ranks as their batsmen made short detours to the crease. Kallis added the wickets of Hamish Rutherford and Aaron Redmond before taking the catch of Wagner to signal the end of a wonderful night. Kumble picked up two wickets, as did R Vinay Kumar, to round off an excellent evening for the home side.