KKR vs RCB: The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally managed to earn their first points in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 tournament as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by three wickets as Dinesh Karthik and Harshal Patel bring down the curtains to a neck and neck match.
After winning the toss, RCB sent the Shreyas Iyer-led team to bat first. Openers Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane made a slow start to their innings as they accumulated 14 runs in three overs. Iyer (10) was soon sent back to the pavilion the next over.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer tried to stabilise their innings by smashing two fours but his time on the field was short-lived as he returned from the crease after playing 10 balls and scoring 13 runs. Rahane (9) had already bid adieu in the fifth over, making it challenging for the team to find stability.
Nitish Rana started his innings with a four and a six against Akash Deep, but the pacer came back to eliminate the left-handed hitter, thanks to a wonderful running catch from David Willey, and KKR were 44-3 at the conclusion of 6 overs.
Sam Billings and Sunil Narine then joined forces in an attempt to keep their innings steady. Narine began aggressively, smacking a four and a six against Akash Deep. However, Hasaranga made sure the duo couldn’t last long as he took two wickets in two balls to send Narine and Sheldon Jackson back to the pavilion.
While Narine was trapped within the circle, Jackson was taken off guard by the spinner in the ninth over. With KKR struggling at 76/6 at the halfway point, the dangerous Andre Russell went in to bat. The right-handed hitter declared his arrival in great style, thumping four and six apiece and amassing 25 runs in 18 balls.
RCB rode on a stellar performance by the bowlers that ensured KKR was bundled up within a meagre 128 runs total. Wanindu Hasaranga spearheaded the bowling attack, clinching four wickets conceding 20 runs. Although, winning did not come easy for RCB as they had to fight their way through the attacks of the KKR bowlers.
The RCB, who were chasing 129 runs for the win, did not modify their lineup from the previous game. Umesh Yadav maintained his excellent form from the previous game by dismissing Anuj Rawat for a duck in the opening over of the innings. After skipper du Plessis was caught inside the circle, RCB lost both of their openers.
Virat Kohli, who batted at number three, blasted two fours but was quickly despatched after being caught behind off Yadav’s bowling. RCB were 3 down for 36 at the end of the powerplay, with David Willey and Sherfane Rutherford at the crease.
In the eighth over, the batting pair relieved some strain by hitting attacking spinner Varun Chakaravarthy for a four and a six. The Challengers were 59-3 at the conclusion of ten overs, thanks to some risk-free cricket from Willey and Rutherford, who kept the runs coming.
Narine reintroduced KKR into the game by removing Willey, who was given an easy dismissal. Shahbaz Ahmed, who was pushed up the order, demonstrated his hitting ability by slamming two sixes against Russell to help RCB regain control. RCB needed 36 runs off the last five overs.
RCB needed 100 runs after Shahbaz hit a maximum against Chakaravarthy, but the right-handed batsman was stumped on the first ball.
Needing 24 off the final three overs, Tim Southee struck twice in the – to eliminate Rutherford and Wanindu Hasaranga. Harshal Patel smashed two crucial fours in the last over before Dinesh Karthik finished up the chase with a six and a four, as the team won with four balls remaining.
KKR vs RCB Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 132 for 7 (Rutherford 28, Shahbaz 27, Southee 3-20, Umesh 2-16) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 128 (Russell 25, Hasaranga 4-20, Akash 3-45, Harshal 2-11) by three wickets
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