Gayle, Hodge shine on day of thrillers at IPL

JAIPUR, India (AP) — Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Chris Gayle and Rajasthan Royals batsman Brad Hodge produced superb batting performances on Tuesday to steer their tams to last-over wins in the Indian Premier League.

Gayle smashed 81 off 48 balls with eight sixes and four fours as Bangalore completed a win off the last ball in scoring 186-4 in reply to Pune Warriors' 182-6 at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

South African batsman AB de Villiers (33) and Saurabh Tiwary (36) were the not out batsmen for Bangalore.

De Villiers played some predetermined sweep shots, smashing three sixes and two fours off 14 balls. But the win was secured by a boundary from Tiwary off pace bowler Ashish Nehra on the last ball.

Robin Uthappa top-scored for Pune with 69 while Jesse Ryder and Marlon Samuels chipped in with 34 apiece.

It was the second win in five games for Bangalore while Pune remains on three wins from five.

At Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur, Hodge hammered 48 not out off 21 balls with two sixes and six fours as Rajasthan scored 197-5 in 19.4 overs in reply to Deccan Chargers' 196-2.

In-form Ajinkya Rahane hit 44 and captain Rahul Dravid 42 to be the other contributors in Rajasthan's victory.

Rajasthan had looked on course until legspinner Amit Mishra brought Deccan back into the game from the 12th over, taking 3-32 that included the wickets of Rahane and the dangerous Owais Shah.

Rahane leads the tournament with 304 runs, including a top score of 103 not out against Royal Challengers Bangalore, but he was caught at long off. Shah holed out to deep mid-wicket.

With the focus on Hodge, little-known batsman Dishant Yagnik blasted two consecutive fours off South Africa paceman Dale Steyn to hit the winning runs with two balls to spare.

For Deccan, South African batsman JP Duminy (58 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan (52) were the main scorers.

Rajasthan went to top position recording its fourth win from six games, while Deccan is without a victory after three matches.