Gayle powers Bangalore into IPL final

Gayle helps RCB thrash CSK to finish on top of league table

Chennai: Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on champions Chennai Super Kings in Saturday's Indian Premier League final after in-form Chris Gayle blasted 89 to lift them to a 43-run victory over Mumbai Indians on Friday.

Scorecard

Gayle, the tournament's top scorer, tore apart the Mumbai bowling, hitting five sixes and nine fours in his 47-ball blitz which made 220 look like a possible total at one stage.

Gayle plundered 27 runs off the first over, sent down by Mumbai's surprise new ball choice Abu Nechim, to signal his intent and he shared a 113-run opening stand with Mayank Agarwal (41).

The West Indian left-hander eventually fell to Munaf Patel in the 15th over and Mumbai bowlers did well to restrict Bangalore to 185 for four wickets.

When they returned to chase what was still a formidable target, Mumbai required a strong start which they did not get at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.

Opener Aiden Blizzard fell in the third over and Mumbai soon buckled under pressure, losing wickets at regular intervals.

Skipper Sachin Tendulkar (40) provided resistance but once left-arm spinner Jamaluddin Syed Mohammad had him stumped in the eighth over, Bangalore had the match in the bag and Mumbai struggled to 142 for eight.