Uthappa's blast tames the Knights

The Indian selectors ignored him for the World Twenty20, but Robin Uthappa has once again proved he is one of the best finishers in the shortest version of the game.

The right-hander smashed a blazing 22-ball 52 to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to a crushing seven-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in Bangalore, on Saturday.

This was Uthappa's third half-century in the tournament, his best being the 21-ball fifty he made against Kings XI Punjab. Who can also forget the smashing knock of 68 from 38 balls against Chennai Super Kings that turned the match on it's head in the last few overs.

When he came out to bat in the 12th over, Bangalore needed 76 from eight overs at more than nine runs per over. But amazingly his smashing innings helped the hosts finish off the match with 17 deliveries to spare.

After Rahul Dravid's dismissal for a brisk 52 from 35 balls, it was left to Uthappa to provide the finishing touches and he certainly didn't disappoint.

He heaved Angelo Mathews over midwicket for his first six to announce his arrival and very soon it began to rain sixes at the M Chinnaswamy stadium.

Ajantha Mendis suffered the most at the hands of Uthappa, who felt so confident out in the middle, that he twice reverse swept him for sixes over the point and cover region.

He brought up his half-century from just 22 balls, having hit three boundaries and five sixes, before Ross Taylor completed the rout with a boundary through midwicket.

Eventually, it turned out to be quite easy for Bangalore, who cruised to 164 for three in 17.1 overs to jump to second in the standings and inch a step closer to the semi-finals.