Phil Salt leads Delhi Capitals to victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore

Salt scored 87 runs off 45 balls as the Capitals chased down 182 in 16.4 overs

Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore 181-4, Delhi Capitals 187-3 – Delhi Capitals won by seven wickets

A destructive display from Phil Salt helped lift Delhi Capitals off the foot of the table as they cruised to a seven-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The Capitals, who began the 2023 season with a five-match losing streak, have now won four of their past five matches and sit just two points behind fourth-placed Rajasthan Royals.

Chasing 182, Salt blasted 87 runs off 45 deliveries, including eight fours and six sixes, to carry the Capitals to within a dozen runs of victory.

^{Virat Kohli (right) scored his 50th IPL half-century [Money Sharma/Getty Images]}

He was eventually removed by Karn Sharma in the 16th over, leaving Rilee Rossouw (35 off 22) and Axar Patel (8 off 3) to wrap up the win. David Warner (22) and Mitchell Marsh (26 off 17) also made contributions with the bat.

Earlier, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis embarked on yet another strong opening partnership for RCB, putting on 82 runs for the first wicket before Marsh removed the latter shortly after the halfway mark. He accounted for compatriot Glenn Maxwell with the following delivery.

Kohli and Mahipal Lomror put on 55 runs in an explosive third-wicket stand, with Lomror blasting 34 runs off just 17 balls.

Kohli was later dismissed by Mukesh Kumar for 55 (46) – his 50th IPL half-century – in the 16th over while Dinesh Karthik also departed before the end of the innings. Lomror was unbeaten on 54 (29).