Dravid says Bangalore lost the match in the first six overs of their chase. He liked the pitch better than the one they played on over the weekend. He doesn’t mind his own form, saying he would gladly hand the orange cap over to someone else if it means Bangalore win more often.

Its over now, Bangalore lose by 24 runs.

Kohli goes for 50 off 32 balls, too little and too late.

16 off the penultimate over. 29 needed in the last over.

Kohli has upped the ante in last couple of overs, but probably its a little too late.

It amazes me that Bangalore’s failings in the IPL are related to Dravid. He has played much better than all of Mallyas other famed investments – Pieterson, Ryder, Taylor. And at an amazing strike rate (compare his to KPs in todays game). Even last season he was among the top run scorers. He is truly their icon player, by far the best batsman in the team. Also the top run scorer in this year’s IPL

Dravid departs, and with The Tank gone so are the hopes for Bangalore.

75 runs in 5 overs, gettable but very very improbable.

Kohli getting into the act, consecutive boundaries for him. Another good over for Bangalore. 

45 off 22 balls, The Tank wants to win this game, he is going after Harmeet Singh. 17 off the 14th over.

Straight back over the sightscreen … just clear the leg and give it a bit of humpty … good simple tactic from Dravid. Another six!

Meanwhile Rahul ‘The Tank’ Dravid rolls on. First six of the innings, 28 off 17 balls. Come on challengers give him some support.

Kohli comes in and picks up where Pietersen left off, crawling. He should be sent back to playing under 19 cricket.

Ojha ends Pietersen’s misery 11 off 15 balls. Splendid performace , totally worth all the money paid to him. Mallya send him back to his wife.

Another four from Rahul ‘The Tank’ Dravid.

Wonder what Vijay Mallya is thinking. His F1 team didn’t do well in Shangai and his cricket team isn’t doing well in South Africa. Plus there are elections in Karnataka so booze sale would be down for three days. Maybe he is singing, ” I get knocked down, but I will get up again, you will not be able to keep me down”

57/3 after 10. It fast becoming a hopeless situation! But what was Bangalore expecting from Ryder and Uthappa?

Another four from Dravid, The Wall has become The Tank, cant get past it and it will kick your a**.

The Wall, immediately gets a boundary, but till he bats at number 5 or 6 he cannot be that effective

Uthappa out finally, and in comes Dravid, hope he bats well to make a match of it. 

Rahul Dravid walks out to save the follow-on. Ooops, sorry. Looked like a Test to me, probably Dravid is also feeling the same. Though if it was a Test Dravid would be coming in at number 3.

Pietersen need to be sent back to England to his wife. and Uthappa needs to be sent back to… wherever but just make him stay away from a cricket field. Atrocious batting by these two, they are scoring at 5 an over while the asking rate is over 11.

Go RP go, 2.3 overs for 8 runs… fantastic spell. India is still looking for a third seamer, you can grab the spot.

Maybe Dr Vijay Mallya needs to give KP and co a few drinks for them to maybe try and loosen them up. Royal Challengers are just playing safe by picking up singles.

Meanwhile RP Singh picks up Kallis, he is in the middle of a fantastic spell here. 2-0-7-1. In comes KP, probably too late.

Uthappa is supposed to be a dasher, 4 off 8 balls is not going to work for him or his team. Bangalore would do well to send Dravid up the order.

Kallis hits 2 fours, he is a class player irrespective of the format.

Royal Challengers begin their reply and Ryder is gone the first ball. The Kiwi pari of Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder is having a horrible horrible time in IPL. Its time to get back Boucher.

Deccan Chargers finish with 184, a very very formidable total. Gilchrist and Rohit Sharma deserve all the credit. Rohit has been a revelation in IPL, but for some reason he hasnt done well for the Indian team in the last year. But boy he does looks like the ideal replacement for Laxman when the time comes. The same lazy elegance, the same exquisite timing.

Gilchrist wants to win this one and he keeps going like this the Royal Challengers will remain just that ‘Challengers’, no chance of their winning this game.

Very Very Special Laxman joins the run away train called Gilchrist.  

Gibbs Six and Out (Six and Out is also the name of Brett Lee’s band). Praveen Kumar gets the first breakthrough.

Gili is flying 26 from 11 balls, he probably thinks rain may come down any moment and it may turn into a 5-5 game.

Steyn to Gibbs, South Africa vs South Africa, good contest!

Gilchrist gets 3 boundries in a row, my prayers are answered! 

Deccan to bat first, hoping for a shower of boundries from Gili and Gibbs ( and of course praying for bright and sunny weather)