The M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru witnessed va pulsating encounter on the 29th of March 2024, as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) locked horns with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 10th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
RCB Bat First, Powered by Kohli’s Fifty
Opting to bat first, RCB got off to a flying start with openers Phil Salt (18) and Faf du Plessis (17) providing a brisk foundation. However, the dismissal of du Plessis in the powerplay triggered a mini-collapse, with wickets falling at regular intervals.
Enter the ever-reliable Virat Kohli, who played a captain’s knock. Kohli anchored the innings with a well-composed 67 off 48 balls, his innings laced with 11 boundaries and 2 sixes.
While Kohli held fort at one end, wickets continued to tumble at the other. Cameron Green (33) provided a brief spark with his aggressive knock, but his dismissal left RCB in a precarious position.
Karthik’s Late Blitz Falls Short
Dinesh Karthik, once again, played the role of finisher for RCB. His late cameo of 24 runs off just 14 deliveries included two crucial sixes, keeping RCB’s hopes alive. However, the lack of substantial contributions from the middle order left RCB with a below-par total of 182/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
KKR Off to a Flying Start
Chasing a modest target, KKR openers Sunil Narine (22) and Aaron Finch (38) got their team off to a blazing start. The pair took full advantage of the RCB powerplay, putting on a quickfire 50-run partnership.
Just when KKR seemed to be cruising towards victory, the tide turned with the introduction of spin. Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan mystery spinner, provided the breakthrough, dismissing both openers in quick succession.
Spinners Take Center Stage
The dismissal of the openers brought Shreyas Iyer (42) and Nitish Rana (37) to the crease. The duo steadied the ship with a sensible partnership, ensuring KKR remained in control of the chase.
However, RCB’s spinners, Hasaranga and Karn Sharma, continued to weave their magic, picking up wickets at crucial junctures. The pressure began to mount on KKR as wickets started to tumble.
A Tense Finish
With just 20 runs required from the final three overs, the match entered a tense phase. Pat Cummins, the KKR all-rounder, smashed a six off Mohammed Siraj in the 18th over, bringing the equation down to a manageable 14 runs from 12 balls.
However, drama unfolded in the 19th over as Harshal Patel dismissed Andre Russell (7) cheaply. The equation became even tighter – 8 runs required from the final over.
KKR Clinch Victory in the Last Over
Needing just eight runs in the final over, Umesh Yadav bowled a tight line and length, conceding just two runs off the first three deliveries. With five runs required from the last three balls, Sheldon Cottrell smashed a six over long-off, sending the Knight Riders dugout into a frenzy. KKR secured a thrilling victory by four wickets with one ball to spare.
Key Players
- Virat Kohli (RCB): Played a captain’s knock with a well-composed 67, providing much-needed stability to the RCB innings.
- Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB): Picked up two crucial wickets in the middle overs, putting the brakes on the KKR chase.
- Sunil Narine (KKR): Provided a quickfire start at the top of the order, scoring a brisk 22 off 11 deliveries.
- Shreyas Iyer (KKR): Anchored the KKR chase with a sensible knock of 42 runs, keeping his team in contention.
- Sheldon Cottrell (KKR): Hit a six in the final over to seal the victory for KKR.
READ ALSO: How many times has RCB been able to qualify for Playoffs in the IPL?
Looking Ahead
This victory will be a huge confidence booster for KKR, who have now won two out of their first three matches. RCB, on the other hand, will need to address their batting woes in the middle order. They will look to bounce back stronger in their upcoming matches.
