RCB beat CSK in thriller

Shepherd-led RCB survive Mhatre’s brilliant 94 to beat CSK by 2 runs

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Ayush Mhatre nearly upended Romario Shepherd's ferocious 14-ball fifty with a 94 of rare class but Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowlers kept their nerves in the death overs to carve an out-of-fire two-run win over Chennai Super Kings and get closer to IPL playoffs here Saturday.

Once the RCB piled a massive 213 for five, courtesy fifties of different hues by Virat Kohli (62, 33 balls), Jacob Bethell (55 off 33) and Shepherd (53 not out of 14, 4x4, 6x6), joint-second fastest in the IPL, CSK had a mountain to climb.

But they almost did the unthinkable, riding on 17-year-old Mhatre's 94 (48 balls; 9x4, 5x6), only to end up at 211 for five.

Mhatre had an astute partner in veteran Ravindra Jadeja (77 not out off 45 balls), as they together milked 114 runs for the third wicket.