Sports news: Taylor propels Bangalore to thrilling win

Pretoria: Ross Taylor’s unbeaten 81 inspired the Bangalore Royal Challengers to a six-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday. New Zealand batsman Taylor blasted seven boundaries and five sixes in 33 balls at Centurion Park, dominating a fourth-wicket stand of 38 with Rahul Dravid (12), before going on to partner Mark Boucher (13 not out) as Bangalore reached 176-4 in 19.2 overs in response to Kolkata’s 173-4. Injured Shane Warne out of IPL Kolkata captain Brendon McCullum had earlier played a superb innings of 84 not out in a stylish return to form and when Bangalore slumped to 74-3 and 122-4, all odds were on Kolkata notching a second win of the series. But Taylor capitalised on some wayward Kolkata bowling, especially from seamers Ishant Sharma and Ajit Agarkar, to steer Banglore home. Bangalore openers Jacques Kallis (32) and Jesse Ryder put on 58 for the first wicket before Kallis was brilliantly caught by a diving McCullum in the covers off a short-pitched Murali Kartik delivery in the ninth over. Left-arm spinner Kartik took 2-28 for Bangalore in his four overs. Just five runs later Ryder top-edged Agarkar to Sourav Ganguly at third man to leave Bangalore on 63-2.Robin Uthappa added seven runs before trying to clear the boundary with a sweep shot off Kartik to be caught by Angelo Mathews in the deep. Racism in Knight Riders camp: Jadeja Rahul Dravid was the last wicket to fall, giving Ajantha Mendis a return catch in the 16th over. "It’s nice to make runs but it breaks my heart when the team loses and today was not different," said Kolkata captain McCullum. "We had the game in the bag for most of it until Ross took it away from us." Bangalore captain Anil Kumble praised his batsmen for successfully chasing down the total.