Hello All,
Welcome to the clash between No. 4 vs No. 3 – RCB vs KKR. Both teams have won 4 of their 6 matches. RCB are here after a dominating win over CSK and KKR with some last over heroics from Narine helped them beat Punjab in their last encounter. Both teams would look forward to keeping up their winning momentum. RCB are looking a complete package after the return of Chris Morris meanwhile for KKR Narine would not be able to participate due to suspected bowling and Dre Russ just managing to gain full fitness after an injury scare. This will be RCB’s first match in Sharjah and will surely test their bowlers.
It’s toss time here at Sharjah, The RCB captain calls it right and decides to bat first. Siraj makes a comeback in place of Gurkeerat Singh. for KKR, Tom Baton makes his debut in place of Narine.
IPL 2020: Match 28. RCB vs KKR.
Live from- Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Time- 7:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- Richard Illingworth & Krishnamachari Srinivasan
3rd umpire- KN Anantha Padmanabhan
Match official- Vengalil Narayan Kutty
Teams:
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Tom Banton, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik (c/wk), Rahul Tripathi, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Finch and Devdutt Padikkal to open for RCB and it’s Cummins for KKR to bowl, starts off with a dot and then Finch goes on the front foot and flicks it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Two singles and a double to end the first. RCB are 8/0 after 1. Prasidh to partner Cummins starts off with three singles and then Finch take the aerial route for a maximum over long-on. Two singles to finish off the over. 11 coming from it. Cummins resumes, a dot and is then greeted with back to back boundaries by Dev over the covers and through point. At the end of 3 overs, RCB are 27/0.
Prasidh to continue, gets two dots in and then Finch takes a single and we again see Dev hitting back to back boundaries, some form he is in right now collecting boundaries through beautifully placed flicks. 10 runs coming from it. Cummins to bowl his third, just gives away 4 singles and RCB reach 41/0 after 5. Russell is introduced, starts off with just 2 from his 5 balls, the last ball is pulled but in the air and dropped by the young Nagarkoti, regulation catch this but somehow manages to drop and to rub salt into the wound it goes for a boundary. So at the end of Powerplay RCB are 47/0.
Varun Chakravarthy comes into the attack, starts off with a single and a couple of doubles, then Finch pulls one through mid-wicket for a boundary and two singles to finish Varun’s first over, 11 from it. Russell is back and Dev greets him with a maximum- Thanks to another dropped catch in the deep – Prasidh the culprit this time. Dev was certainly undone by the change of pace but goes through with the shot and lofts it over long-on. After two singles and a wide later Russell decides to take a wicket himself but a ball almost yorker and Dev’s stumps are shattered. KKR take the Strategic timeout.
The first strategic break between RCB vs KKR, RCB have made a good start, KKR have got one back though, could this lead to more or RCB get on with the momentum. A two-paced wicket it seems. Kohli walks in at 3, Russel comes back and starts off with a wide and a single to end the over. RCB are 69/1 after 8. Varun is back and bowls an economical over just 3 coming from it. Nagarkoti is brought in and bowls an excellent first over giving away just 6 singles from it. So at the halfway stage RCB are 78/1.
Varun continues and gives away just 2 singles and 3 doubles to end the 11th, 8 coming from it. Nagarkoti continues and gives just 4 from it, good variations in slower deliveries observed in that over. Prasidh continues, Finch greets with a beautifully placed boundary, the next ball Prasidh gets his man, full, straight and in the middle and Finch has to depart seeing his stumps shattered- get out for 47. AB walks out to bat, starts off with two dots, good change of pace by Prasidh, the next AB hits it soo that that it goes straight hits the stumps at the non striker end and goes to the boundary at long-off after deflection! What power. RCB are 99/2 after 13.
Nagarkoti resumes, RCB just dealing in singles and doubles here, good bowling this from KKR they have understood the pitch well and bowling the slower ones as it’s holding on the pitch. Varun to bowl his final and gives just 4 runs. Excellent stuff this from KKR choking all the boundaries. RCB are 111/2 after 15. Nagarkoti to bowl his final starts off with a double, a dot and AB read the slower one and hits it out for a maximum through mid-wicket. The next ball- AB is now ready for another slower one and this time the ball is out of the ground. We see that 2 cars windshield have a crack after that hit. AB has hit the accelerator here in Sharjah.
A dot and a flick down the legside to finish an expensive over from Nagarkoti- got quite predictable in the end with the slower balls and AB was not missing out. RCB are 129/2 after 16. Time out 2 in the RCB vs KKR encounter. RCB have changed gears in that over, KKR had bowled a tight spell before that choking the boundaries. Final 4 overs coming up, will the best pair continue or KKR get the breakthrough they would certainly like wicket of AB now.
Cummins is brought in the attack, starts off with a wide and Kohli takes a single as DK (wk) fumbles, Cummins to AB and hits it straight over long-off for a maximum. AB in 6 hitting mode now. The next ball is a slower one but in the arc for AB and he muscles it over mid-wicket. Cummins returns with two dots and the AB gets hold of the low full toss for another maximum! Flat 6 over the right to long-on. A single to finish the over. 19 coming from it. RCB are 148/2 after 17.
Russell brought back in, and AB just smashes it for another boundary. The next ball AB does it even better – A maximum over long-on. 50 up for AB in just 23 balls! 3 doubles and a single to finish the over. 17 runs from it and RCB are 165/2 after 18.
Kohli is struggling in the middle while AB looks like playing on a different wicket. Kohli happily playing the second fiddle here. Prasidh is back, Kohli gets 2 doubles and finally gets his first boundary in his 25th ball! Full and wide from Prasidh, Kohli throws the kitchen sink and gets an outside edge and in the gap between the keeper and short 3rd man. Two singles and a double to end the over. 12 runs from it. RCB are 177/2 after 19.
Russell to bowl the final over, AB you beauty a flat 6 over long-off to start the proceeding, Russel bowls a brilliant yorker the next ball. The third ball- Full wide yorker and AB just smashes it for another boundary and to make matters worse Russell has overstepped. Free hit and a good wide yorker and AB manages a double. Another double off the next and two singles to finish the innings. RCB end with 194/2 on the board.
Well, 82 runs were scored off the last 5 overs. It was certainly the ABD show. Seemed like he was batting of a different pitch as he was getting the boundaries at easy while the others struggled. RCB had a great start, but KKR pulled things back brilliantly in the middle overs but the ABD special got RCB to a formidable total in the end. Keep in mind the wicket seems to be on a slower side, would be difficult to score especially seen when KKR bowled in the middle overs. KKR certainly have a better batting line up but it would certainly test them. The second half of RCB vs KKR coming right up.
Tom Banton and Shubman Gill to open for KKR. Chris Morris will open the attack for RCB. Starts off well on the first, Tom takes a single. A dot and then Morris strays it down the leg and Gill says thankyou and a boundary to start his innings. A dot and two singles to finish the first. KKR are 7/0. Saini to partner Morris and starts off with a wide. Two dots later, Saini drops Gill. Tough changes but could not hold on to it. Gill had absolutely smacked back hard to Saini- He puts his hand but could not hold it. Another dot, wide and single to finish the 2nd. KKR are 12/0 after 2.
Siraj is brought in to bowl his first, starts off with a double, a few swing and miss from Tom, two singles to end the third. Just 4 from it. Saini to continue, and Gill greets him with a boundary through the covers. Saini then gives three singles. Last ball, Saini to Tom and he gets the breakthrough. Full and straight, Tom tries to push the ball but gets an inside edge and sees his off stump uprooted. RCB are 23/1 after 4.
Nitish Rana walks in at 3. Siraj to continue, Gill takes a single off the first. Rana then starts off with a boundary, some short that with excellent timing. A dot and single later, Gill pulls one to the fence for a boundary. The next ball Gill moves away, Siraj bowls a bouncer and Gill then plays a ramp and gets a maximum what an execution! KKR finally have a good over. 16 runs from it. Sundar is brought in the attack and bowls a tight over just 4 from it. KKR reach 43/1 after 6. Time for the first time out in innings two of RCB vs KKR. RCB have bowled well not giving easy runs.
KKR are still in the chase losing just 1 wicket. Chahal is brought in, bowls an excellent over giving just 3 runs from it. Good tight overs by the RCB spinners. Sundar to continue, 5 singles off his 5 balls, Sundar to Rana and he cleans him up. The scoreboard pressure got him, he was looking out of place, tried a slog sweep and missed it completed and Sundar hits the stump. KKR are 51/2 after 8. Chahal to continue, Morgan walks in at 4. Gill takes the aerial route, no connection and Finch Drops it at long-off that was as easy as it gets and he drops it and Gill takes a single.
Morgan tries the reverse sweep misses and RCB have taken a review. Chahal and AB were confident it came from the Bat/ glove for a catch and replays suggest it came from Morgan’s forearm. The go with ball tracking and its missing the stumps. Review lost. Just 2 more singles to end the over. KKR are 54/2 after 9. Sundar to continue, Gill takes a single and a dot later it’s a disaster for KKR- Gill is run-out. Poor judgement for running between wickets there. Morgan plays a false short is almost gulped by Udana, bounces just short of him but then he fires in a flat throw to AB and AB runs Gill out.
Karthik walks in at 5, and takes a single. Morgan finally connects one for a boundary and it goes over extra cover for a boundary. A single taken off the last. So at the halfway stage KKR are 61/3. Chahal to continue starts off with a dot and Morgan takes a single. Third ball and Karthik is bowled. Chahal with the full flighted ball wide of off, Karthik goes after it only managing a inside edge to the stumps. Finishes his over giving just 3 from it. KKR are 64/4 after 11.
Sundar to bowl his final, Morgan makes room and tries to clear extra cover but Sundar sees the moment and follows him, it takes the outside edge and straight to Udana at short third man. Huge wicket this for RCB. Russel and Tripathi in the crease. Completes his over giving just 5 and completes his spell for 2/20. KKR are 69/5 after 12. Excellent bowling this from the RCB spinners having choked all the runs. KKR under pressure losing wickets.
Morris is brought back in, starts off with a dot and a single. Morris bowls a slower one, Russell tries to get over long-off and Dev cannot hold on to the catch! ohh my… would this be the game-changer. Remember a Dre Russ special last time when they had met. Just 2 singles from that over and KKR are 71/5 after 13. Time for 2nd time out in RCB vs KKR second innings.
RCB are certainly in the driver’s seat here. Dev dropped Russell in the last over had that been taken it was game over the, but he could not. Tripathi and Russell have the power the clear the fence but have a mountain to climb in this slow pitch. The final 7 overs coming up.
Udana is handed the ball, In the slot and Russell clobbers it for a boundary. The next ball goes for half a dozen! Almost a stunning catch by Dev in the deep. Russel hits it in the same spot as before, Dev runs it takes it single-handed but the momentum is so much that when he tries to release the ball he steps on the ropes. The next ball is hit over long-on for another boundary. Is the Dre Russ coming to haunt RCB?
Finally executes his yorker for a dot. Then the wicket ball- Full and wide almost a yorker a low full toss moving away for Russel, he tries to hit it over covers only managing to slice it up and Siraj makes no mistake and take a good catch. Game Set Match for RCB? 15 runs from the over but RCB have got their man- Dre Russ who terrorised them in a similar situation when they played last time. But not able to repeat the heroics tonight. 15 from it. KKR are 86/6 after 14.
Morris is back in the attack, just 4 singles off his 4 balls, he then gets Cummins. Slower and wide ball, Cummins gets no connection and an easy catch at long-off. Just 4 runs from it and KKR reach 90/7 after 15. Chahal to bowl his final and just gives 5 runs from it. He finishes with 1/12. What a spell this from Chahal going for just 3-rpo that too in Sharjah being a spinner. Siraj is back, bowls to dots, Tripathi gets hold off one and gets a boundary over extra cover. Two dots later he is holed out in the deep by Morris. Good running low catch. KKR are 99/8 after 17.
Varun and Nagarkoti at the crease, KKR have no chance in the chase now- just going with the flow. Saini continues and gives 5 runs. Morris to bowl his final. Gives 4 singles off his 5 ball, Nagarkoti tries to slog one only managing an inside edge to his stumps. Morris ends with 2/17. Udana to bowl the final over and he gives 4 singles. A big and an easy win for RCB in the end. KKR finish at 112/9. Excellent bowling by RCB see them with a big win against KKR.
KKR had a decent start but the bowlers didn’t give away easy boundary balls. The middle overs were ruled completely by the RCB spin duo of Sundar and Chahal. Just giving 32 runs of their combined 8 overs with 3 wickets that too in a small ground of Sharjah dented KKR’s hopes. Udana after getting hit got his revenge by getting the big fish- Dre Russ. RCB meanwhile were in a similar situation with the bat but then they had Mr. 360 who seems to be batting on a different pitch altogether. Taking RCB to a mammoth total and the RCB bowlers defended well to get a big win and two points.
Awards-
AB de Villiers – Dream11 game-changer of the match.
AB de Villiers – Altroz super striker of the match.
AB de Villiers- Unacademy – Let’s crack it.
Navdeep Saini – Cred power player of the match.
AB de Villiers – Man of the Match.
Well that bring us to an end of the Clash between RCB vs KKR. Kohli and his troops getting the win and 2 points. A special from Mr. 360 along with tidy bowling led RCB to a huge win against KKR. RCB are now placed third in the table their NRR being lower than the other teams tied at 10 points apiece. For more IPL content click here.
Watch the Match Highlights of RCB vs KKR here-
Stay tuned for Chapter 10 coming up next. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao.
Vivek Nair
