Bengaluru: Star South African batsman AB de Villiers struck a half-century with a late flurry of sixes as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by four wickets to notch up their first win in the IPL-11 yesterday.

De Villiers (57 off 40 balls) played anchor after the early departure of captain Virat Kohli (21) before he opened up his arms towards the end for some lusty blows as the RCB chased down the target of 156 with three balls to spare. This was after the RCB bowlers, led by pacer Umesh Yafav who took three wickets in an over, had shot out the KXIP for 155 after being sent into bat.

De Villiers hit two fours and four sixes in his knock. He was out in the 18th over but by then he has taken the match to the threshold of victory with RCB needing just 10 runs from 1.5 overs.

Mandeep Singh contributed 22 down the order while Washington Sundar (9 not out) hit the winning runs — four — as RCB reached 159 for 6 in 19.3 overs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

RCB had lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets in their first match on April 8.