On this Day in 2012 - Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers power RCB to a 5-wicket win

Royal Challengers Bangalore started the campaign with a win against Delhi Daredevils at home but ended up on the wrong side of the results in the next four encounters in 2012. Next up, they faced Kings XI Punjab at the PCA Stadium, Mohali.

Zaheer Khan provides the early breakthrough 

Earlier in the evening, Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and opted to field first. The veteran left-arm pacer, Zaheer Khan struck first blood, cramping Nitin Saini for room, in the process uprooting the off stump. The left-arm pacer dealt another blow, as he accounted for Paul Valthathy in the fifth over. David Hussey joined Shaun Marsh in the middle, in a bid to nullify the detriment caused by the RCB bowlers. 

Riding on the contributions from David Hussey and Azhar Mahmood, KXIP finish with a competitive total 

The Australian pair added 30 runs for the fourth wicket before his fellow countryman Andrew McDonald halted the partnership by deceiving Shaun Marsh with the off-cutter. KXIP's wrecker-in-chief, David Miller walked into the bat with the scorecard reading 57 for 3 in the 9th over. The RCB spin bowling appendix aimed at bowling disciplined lengths to the southpaw; cramping him for room. David Miller's 13-ball stay at the crease was deterred by Andrew McDonald. At the other end, David Hussey constructed his innings to perfection, scoring odd-boundaries to keep the run-rate in check. 

Harshal Patel, introduced into the attack, struck a vital blow, dismissing the in-form David Hussey. Azhar Mahmood found a perfect ally in Mandeep Singh as they forged a vital 44-run partnership. Azhar Mahmood's late flourish ensured that KXIP finished with a competitive 163 runs on board; the all-rounder bludgeoned 33 runs from just 13 deliveries studded with three fours and two maximums. 

Parvinder Awana strikes early 

In reply, Parvinder Awana provided early jolts to the RCB batting line-up, dismissing Mayank Agarwal and Virat Kohli within the space of 5 deliveries. Saurabh Tiwari joined the company of Chris Gayle in the middle. Sourabh Tiwari's stay at the crease was marred with a barrage of short deliveries. Parvinder Awana's short-pitched delivery stimulated Sourabh Tiwary to go big, but holed out to the keeper. 

Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers combine forces to safeguard the run-chase 

RCB's two talismans, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers had the task of bailing the side out of the situation. AB de Villiers took the charge and began to counter-attack; a ploy to detriment the KXIP bowlers. The duo resurrected the innings to perfection - adding 50 runs in just 34 balls. Chris Gayle cashed in when Praveen Kumar was introduced to the attack; scoring two consecutive boundaries. The Jamaican's big-hitting proficiencies kept the run-rate over the 8-an-over mark and brought up his half-century in 41 balls. 

Thanks to the partnership, RCB were on a course to win their third game of the campaign. The Gayle-ABD liaison knit together a 131-run partnership, before being broken in the penultimate over. After a strong foundation set by the duo, the run-chase was going to be a formality, Andrew McDonald finished the proceedings with a fine drive over the extra covers. The 5-wicket win against Kings XI Punjab came at a very crucial juncture of the tournament and provided the impetus to the campaign.