BANGALORE, India (CMC) — West Indies captain Chris Gayle offered glimpses of his batting prowess, but his Kolkata Knight Riders lost their sixth game of the Indian Premier League as their topsy-turvy run in the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament continued yesterday.

The aggressive left-hander hammered a quick-fire 34 from 15 balls to fire Kolkata to 160 for nine off their 20 overs, but the Indian pair of Rahul Dravid and Robin Uthappa stroked half-centuries to guide Royal Challengers Bangalore to 164 for three with 17 balls remaining.

It was Kolkata’s second loss in four matches, leaving them sixth in the standings with 10 points.

Sent in to bat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kolkata got 52 from 32 balls for the first wicket from Gayle and former India captain Sourav Ganguly who hit a measured 33.

Gayle seemed set for a huge innings, having stroked six fours and a flat six over long-on off Praveen Kumar in the fifth over which cost 21 runs.

He fell in the next over, however, when he came down the pitch and swatted the second ball of Jacques Kallis’ first spell to Dravid, attempting to clear extra cover.

New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum then top scored with 45 from 36 balls to help propel the Knight Riders to their eventual score.

When Royal Challengers Bangalore replied, Gayle got his revenge, taking Kallis at slip off Ashok Dinda eight as the hosts slipped to 11 for one in the third over.

Dravid, who hit 52 from 35 balls and Sridharan Sriram (27) added 72 from 53 balls for the second wicket to set Royal Bangalore on their way before Uthappa’s 22-ball 52 with five sixes and three fours quickly carved out a result.