IPL: 5 largest victory margins in the IPL
T20 is a format which is exciting and fans expect the game to go right down to the wire. However, there have been a lot of instances where a team completely outplays another one to gain a big victory.
The IPL has become one of the best T20 leagues in the world. It has had numerous close games where the teams have fought tooth and nail till the final over (or final ball). However, here we look at 5 largest margins of victory in the history of the IPL.
#5 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors India (130 runs) – 2013
This is a game no that RCB fan or rather no IPL fan can forget. Yes, this is that game in which Christopher Henry Gayle smashed 175.
Pune Warriors India won the toss and opted to field first. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a good first over giving away just three runs. In the next over, Chris Gayle just went after Ishwar Pandey and started the carnage. Pandey was hit for 21 runs in his first over. The next couple of overs were quiet as Bhuvneshwar and Ashok Dinda gave away just 9 runs. However, Gayle smashed Mitchell Marsh for 28 runs in the fifth over of the innings and brought up his 50 in just 17 deliveries.
After that, every bowler that was brought into the attack disappeared. In desperation, skipper Aaron Finch brought himself on and was hit for 29 runs with Gayle hitting 4 sixes and 1 four. RCB were past the 100-run mark in 8th over and Gayle was already on 95 off 27 balls. He completed his century in the next over, breaking the record for the fastest T20 hundred. He got there in 30 balls.
The big Jamaican wasn’t done yet. He continued on his merry way and scored a staggering 175 in just 66 balls. AB de Villiers chipped in with a brutal 8-ball 31 and propelled RCB’s score to 263. It was the highest score in the history of the IPL. Amidst the carnage, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had best figures (4-0-23-0). Gayle hit a staggering 17 sixes throughout his innings.
PWI were never in the chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It was certainly Gayle’s day as he returned to pick up a couple of wickets in the only over he bowled. Pune could just get to 133 in their 20 overs as they slumped to a 130-run defeat.
Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 263 for 5 (Gayle 175*, AB de Villiers 31, Dinda 2/48) beat Pune Warriors 133 (Smith 41, Marsh 24, Gayle 2-5, Rampaul 2/21)