Virat Kohli struck a 47-ball 92 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by 60 runs on Thursday to win their fourth straight match and stay in the hunt for an Indian Premier League play-off spot.
Kohli pounced on two early dropped catches to anchor Bengaluru's total of 241-7 and Rajat Patidar, also dropped twice, provided the early acceleration with a 23-ball 55.
Rilee Rossouw, who missed a hard two-handed catch off Kohli in the covers, scored a blistering 61 off 27 deliveries to give Punjab hope with his first half-century of the season before Mohammed Siraj (3-43) ran through the lower order to bowl out Punjab for 181 in 17 overs.
Kohli also starred in the field, sprinting from mid-wicket to run out Shashank Singh (37) off a superb direct throw with one stump to aim at as Punjab lost their way in the second half of their run chase.
Bengaluru improved to 10 points with two league games remaining. The defeat knocked Punjab out of the play-offs.
Fast bowler Vidwath Kaverappa, making his IPL debut, took the wickets of Faf du Plessis (9) and Will Jacks (12) and twice came close to dismissing Kohli, who escaped a chance before scoring and then Rossouw took a catch when Kohli was on 10.
Kaverappa should also have had Patidar's wicket for zero, but Harshal Patel missed a chance at deep backward square leg as the fast bowler finished with 2-36 from his unchanged four-over spell with the new ball.
Patidar was given life on 33 when wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow couldn't get a thick edge before the power-hitter completed his half-century with six sixes and three boundaries. Play was briefly interrupted by rain and hail shortly after Patidar's whirlwind knock ended when he was caught behind.
Kohli and Cameron Green (46) continued to counterattack after play resumed, with Punjab skipper Sam Curran returning with expensive figures of 0-50 from his three overs and Bengaluru chasing 77 from their last five overs.
Kohli became the first batsman to pass the 600-run mark this season, but just as he was on the verge of his second century, he had Arshdeep Singh (1-41) slashed to deep cover by Rossouw in the 18th over.
Patel (3-38) denied Bengaluru 250 with a brilliant last over of just three runs, the fast bowler having Dinesh Karthik (18) and Green caught by Curran and Mahipal Lomror clean bowled for zero.