Rahul Dravid struck a defiant 66 before Anil Kumble returned a brilliant five-wicket haul to set up Royal Challengers Bangalore's sensational 75-run win over defending champions Rajasthan Royals in the second match of the Indian Premier League here today.
     

The Bangalore team, led by new skipper Kevin Pietersen, put up a modest total of 133 for eight, riding on Dravid's gritty half-century after opting to bat.

They then bundled out Rajasthan Royals for a paltry 58 runs in 15.1 overs, the lowest IPL total, to make dream start to their campaign in the second edition of the T20 event.

Kumble, former India spinner, used the bowlers friendly conditions to the optimum level to return incredible figures of five wickets at the expense of just six runs in 3.1 overs.

The foundation for the victory, though was laid by pacemen Praveen Kumar (2/7) and Jesse Ryder (2/14) who provided early breakthroughs.

Dravid's third IPL fifty, studded with eight fours and one six, came at a time when when chips were down for his side as they were struggling four for 52 at one stage.

It was a dream start for the Bangalore team, one of the weakest teams in the first edition. A disciplined bowling by Bangalore bowlers made the modest looking 133 a mountain to scale as every bowler bowled his heart out.Praveen started the rot and gave the kind of start the Bangalore team needed as he removed Swapnil Asnodkar (0) and dangerous Greame Smith (2) in successive overs -- first and third of the innings.
     
Kiwi paceman Ryder sent back Niraj Patel (4) and dangerous looking Tyson Henderson (11) to leave the Rajasthan team reeling at four for 28. With wickets tumbling and determined Banaglore bowlers, supported by their brilliant fielders, not willing to concede even an inch, runs dried up for the Shane Warne led side.

The pressure mounted with the soaring requiring run rate as defending champions could score only 32 runs in the first 10 overs. Kumble removed devastating Yusuf Pathan (11) after Dimitri Mascarenhas ran himself out and the writing was clear on the wall for the Rajasthan team.
     
Except for three batsman, no Rajasthan player could reach the double digit mark. Rajasthan Royals' defeat also meant that both the finalists of the first edition began their campaign in the seccond edition on the losing note.

In the opening match, Chennai Super Kings, last year's runners-up, lost to Mumbai Indians by 19 runs. Earlier, Dmitri Mascarenhas ripped apart the Bangalore top-order with his devastating spell but defying all the odds, Dravid played a gritty 66-run knock to lead his team to the modest total.

The England all-rounder wreaked havoc with his brilliant three-wicket haul as the Royal Challengers found it extremely hard to recover from the disastrous start. Dravid led the Bangalore fightback with his third IPL fifty while skipper Pietersen (32) was the only other batsmen, who put up some resistance.

Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne (2/18) and Munaf Patel (2/25) shared four wickets between them. Mascarenhas struck on the second ball of the innings, having the dangerous Kiwi batsman Jesse Ryder (0) caught behind and then had the stumps of his compatriot Ross Taylor (0) rattled in the next ball.

Without a single run on the board the Bangalore team had lost two of its most destructive batsmen. The Bangalore team had hardly recovered from the early shocks that they found Robin Uthappa (3) back in the hut when the flamboyant batsman, attempting a big shot holed out to stumper Mahesh Rawat off Mascarenhas.

Pietersen and Dravid steadied the rocking boat as both the batsmen hit some elegant strokes and kept the scoreboard ticking. They added 35-runs for the fourth wicket. Just when the Bangalore team thought the dashing duo have settled and a competitive total is possible, Tyron Henderson sent back Pietersen sending more shock-waves to the rival camp.

Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne then spun his magic as he bamboozled Virat Kohli (3) and Balachandra Akhil (9) to leave Bangalore tottering at 68 for six.