Kings XI Punjab overcame a spate of late run outs to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by four wickets on the next-to-last ball Wednesday, exacting revenge for an earlier loss to the same opponent in the Indian Premier League. Azhar Mahmood claimed the prize wicket of Chris Gayle for 71 in finishing with 3-20 to help restrict Bangalore to 158-5 at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Punjab then totaled 163-6 in 19.5 overs. Indian batsmen Nitin Saini (50) and Mandeep Singh (43) ensured Punjab's chase was on track before captain David Hussey (45) took the team to the brink of victory. But the run outs of Mahmood, Hussey and Abhishek Nayar in the space of seven deliveries made it a close game after only seven had been needed from the last two overs. Piyush Chawla smashed a six to seal the win and push Punjab up to fourth in the nine-team standings with five wins and five losses from 10 games. Bangalore is sixth with four wins, five losses and a no-result. For Bangalore, Gayle displayed his usual repertoire of shots, mostly down the ground, for four sixes and six fours in 42 deliveries — including a six recorded at 111 meters. He added 119 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli, who hit 45 with two sixes and three fours in 42 balls. But the fall of those two batsmen in successive overs hurt the hosts. Scores: Kings XI Punjab 163-6 in 19.5 overs (Nitin Saini 50, David Hussey 45, Mandeep Singh 43, Andrew McDonald 2-25). Royal Challengers Bangalore 158-5 (Chris Gayle 71, Virat Kohli 45, Azhar Mahmood 3-20).
