IPL Match 31: Kolkata Knight Riders register emphatic win over RCB
Kolkata Knight Riders started the 2nd leg of IPL
2021 with a resounding win over Royal Challengers Bangalore played at Sheikh
Zayed International Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Monday.
RCB captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bat
first. It was not an ideal start as captain Kohli went cheaply after
smashing a lovely boundary. After being given out by the umpire, Kohli decided
to review the decision and it was retained. Srikar Bharat made his debut for
RCB and looked good along with Devdutt Paddikal.
Paddikal and Bharat showed intent to keep the scoreboard
ticking. Ferguson bowled a no-ball, but Paddikal could not convert into a big
shot. Paddikal fell at the stroke of the first six overs trying to ramp the shot
but gave a simple catch to Karthik. Paddikal and Bharat added 31 runs for the 2nd
wicket. At the end of the first six overs, RCB scored 41 for 2.
Andre Russell got rid of Srikar Bharat providing an easy
catch to Shubman Gill leaving RCB in big trouble at 51 for 3. With the wicket
of Bharat, the first timeout was called.
Soon after the timeout, Russell produced a peach to dismiss
AB de Villiers for a golden duck. KKR bowlers kept a tight leash on Sachin Baby
with dot balls. Maxwell and Baby could not communicate together as they were involved
in close run-out calls. The pressure got on to Maxwell trying to hit a big shot
off Chakravarthy bowling. Chakravarthy struck off the very next ball dismissing
debutant Hasaranga to leave RCB in tatters.
Baby’s struggling innings came to an end as he was dismissed
off Chakravarthy bowling. Kyle Jamieson was unfortunately run out at the non-striker
end hitting Chakravarthy's hand. Harshal Patel provided some entertainment before
being castled by Ferguson. RCB’s poor performance came to an end as Siraj was
caught at the boundary to be bowled out for 92 in the 19th over.
Chasing 93 runs to win, Shubman Gill and debutant Venkatesh
Iyer started off brightly with positive strokes by both batsmen. Both took on Hasaranga
and Chahal making life tough for RCB. At the end of the first six overs, KKR
openers raced towards 56 for 0. With that, the first timeout was taken.
After the timeout, Gill and Iyer continued their dominating
display. Chahal got the breakthrough for RCB dismissing Gill as Siraj took a
good catch at long-off helping KKR on verge of a big win. Iyer scored 2
boundaries to help KKR register a 9 wicket win with 60 balls to spare.
KKR 94 for 1 in 10 overs (Iyer 41*, Gill 48, Chahal 1/23)
beat RCB 93 in 19 overs (Paddikal 22, Bharat 16, Chakravarthy 3/13, Russell 3/9)
by 9 wickets.
For his 3 for 13 in 4 overs, Varun Chakravarthy was named
the man of the match award. KKR register their third win of IPL 2021 moving up
to six points.
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