Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs in Eden Gardens on Friday. Challengers skipper Virat Kohli smashed a blistering 100 runs off 58 balls, taking the visitors to a total of over 200. RCB ended their innings at 213/4, while the home team ended their chase at 203/3 in their allotted 20 overs.
The Challengers rested AB de Villiers due to dehydration, and included South African bowler Dale Steyn. While batting first, Virat Kohli’s sides opener Parthiv Patel fell at 11, while Akshardeep Nath was dismissed at 13. It was the partnership of Virat Kohli and Moeen Ali who go the bulk of the runs. RCB scored 143 runs off the last 10 overs.
Virat Kohli got his 5th IPL century, his first since 2016. Moeen Ali smashed a significant 28 ball 66, Kohli too started punishing the bowlers. Kohli’s 50 came in 40 balls, while the second fifty came in just 17 balls. The 16th over off Kuldeep Yadav was smashed for three sixes and two fours, Yadav ended his four over quota leaking 59 runs.
While chasing the 214 run target, RCB managed to send home three Knight Rider players Chris Lynn, Shubman Gill and Sunil Narine back to the pavillion. KKR were struggling at 33/3 in the 5th over. Nitesh Rana and Robin Uthappa put up some fight accumulating just 46 off 41 balls. Once Uthappa was gone at 9, a fuming Andre Russell walked into bat.
113 runs were needed off the final six overs, Russell and Rana just hammered RCB bowlers collecting 103 runs. Even though Knight Riders ended up losing this game, Russell’s explosiveness meant otherwise. He scored nine sixes, two fours in his 65 run knock from 25 balls. Nitish Rana made his presence felt in a credible fashion hitting 85 off 46 deliveries.