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19 March 2024

IPL 7 T20 RCB vs KKR: Kolkata stun Bangalore in Sharjah thriller

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

Kolkata Knight Riders put on a stunning performance to seal a thrilling two-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League match in Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Needing 151 to win, Bangalore got off to a brilliant start with openers Parthiv Patel (21) and Yogesh Takawale (40) sharing a 67-run partnership.

Virat Kohli (31) and Yuvraj Singh (31) took it from there and were within reach of victory when Sunil Narine removed Kohli.

That's when things went wrong and a brilliant catch from Lynn in the last over from Vinay Kumar meant Bangalore fell short by three runs.

Earlier, Varun Aaron bagged three wickets while Mitchell Starc took two as Bangalore restricted Kolkata to 150 for seven in 20 overs.

KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir failed again to open his account as he was trapped in front by Starc.

Manish Pandey departed immediately to put Kolkata in a state of bother before Jacques Kallis (43) and Chris Lynn (45) bailed the team out.

Robin Uthappa chipped in with 22 while Suryakumar Yadav scored 24 to ensure Kolkata crossed 150.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE


A stunning catch from Lynn on the ropes. Six needed from two balls. RCB 145-5 in 19.4 overs.

AB de Villiers c Lynn b Vinay Kumar 11 (12b 1x4 0x6)

It's going down the wire. Bangalore need nine runs from six balls with Morkel on strike. He will have to give De Villiers the strike. RCB 142-4 in 19 overs.

Yuvraj fails to clear the boundary and departs at a crucial time. It's getting close now. Bangalore need 10 runs from eight balls. RCB 141-4 in 18.4 overs.

Yuvraj Singh c Pathan b U Yadav 31 (34b 2x4 1x6)

Yuvraj gets a boundary to keep the calculations in check. Bangalore need 18 from 12 balls. RCB 133-3 in 18 overs.

Bangalore need 25 off the last three overs. Should be easy with Yuvraj and De Villiers in the middle. RCB 126-3 in 17 overs.

Narine strikes and removes Kohli. He has been a great bowler and it beats Kohli bat's inner edge. RCB 122-3 in 15.5 overs.

Virat Kohli b Narine 31 (23b 4x4 0x6)

It's all easy now for Bangalore. Only a few quick wickets can probably revive some hopes. RCB 116-2 in 15 overs.

Kohli and Yuvraj not taking any chances against Narine. He completes his third over giving away only 10 runs. Bangalore need an easy 42 runs from 36 balls. RCB 109-2 in 14 overs.

Kohli at his best as he fires two lovely cover drives to the fence. He is on 22. RCB 103-2 in 13 overs.

Both are quiet as they see off Narine's over without much fuss. RCB 93-2 in 12 overs.

Bangalore on top with Yuvraj and Kohli looking to be in a hurry. The duo get 13 runs in Yadav's over. RCB 90-2 in 11 overs.

Morkel bowling some interesting bouncers to make Yuvraj uncomfortable. It's an interesting battle. RCB 77-2 in 10 overs

Kohli and Yuvraj in the middle. Crowds enjoying the moment. They need to stay there for a while especially after receiving a good start from the openers. RCB 72-2 in 9 overs.

The situation suddenly seem to have changed as Bangalore lose another. Vinay Kumar is the bowler. RCB 67-2 in 8.1 overs.

Parthiv Patel c Lynn b Vinay Kumar 21 (19b 3x4 0x6)

Finally Kallis gives the first break for Kolkata. Takawale was going strong but he is trapped in front. RCB 67-1 in 7.4 overs.

Yogesh Takawale lbw b Kallis 40 (28b 8x4 0x6)

It looks like Bangalore are running away with the match. Kolkata need a wicket if they were to stop the openers. Bangalore need another 90 runs from 78 balls. RCB 61-0 in 7 overs.

Takawale is entertaining the crowd. Three lovely boundaries. RCB 49-0 in 6 overs.

Narine comes in to manage the crises and he does a brilliant job giving only one run. RCB 34-0 in 5 overs.

A big over for Bangalore. Takawale is looking confident though an edge was completely misjudged by wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa. RCB 33-0 in 4 overs.

The openers doing a wonderful job with both of them getting a boundary each. RCB 20-0 in 3 overs.

Morkel gives away only two runs in his opening over. Takawale taking his time. RCB 10-0 in 2 overs.

Positive start for Bangalore as Patel cuts a fine boundary. RCB 8-0 in 1 over.

Parthiv Patel and Yogesh Takawale open for Bangalore. Umesh Yadav bowls.

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS INNINGS

Vinay Kumar attempts a cheeky shot but is not successful as Morkel takes an easy catch. KKR 150-7 in 20 overs.

R Vinay Kumar c Morkel b Starc 4 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Dinda leaked 26 runs from his four overs. KKR 142-6 in 19 overs.

Aaron seems to be in his own league. His third wicket comes as Uthappa holes an easy catch to Starc in the deep. KKR 129-6 in 17.1 overs.

Robin Uthappa c Starc b Aaron 22 (18b 0x4 1x6)

A good over for Kolkata. Uthappa gets a six at fine leg area and Yadav finishes with a flat six in the same region. KKR 129-5 in 17 overs.

Chahal finishes his four overs giving away 24 runs claiming the big wicket of Kallis. KKR 113-5 in 16 overs.

Further trouble for Kolkata as Kallis is gone. Chahal flights the ball to tempt Kallis whose big hit does not clear Takawale in the deep. KKR 107-5 in 15.2 overs.

Jacques Kallis c Takawale b Chahal 43 (42b 2x4 1x6)

Very impressive stuff from RCB bowlers. Kolkata's run rate is just over seven and with just five overs remaining, they need a couple of big overs. KKR 106-4 in 15 overs.

Kallis on 41. KKR 100-4 in 14 overs.

Dinda has another good over. Just 12 runs from his two overs. Uthappa is settling down along with Kallis. KKR 96-4 in 13 overs.

That's terrible from Pathan as he returns even before he settled down. A bad shot as Kohli takes another comfortable catch. Aaron on a high. KKR 90-4 in 11.5 overs.

Yusuf Pathan c Kohli b Aaron 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Lynn is unlucky as he departs on 45. Aaron gets his first wicket after many close misses. KKR 90-3 in 11.3 overs.

Chris Lynn c de Villiers b Aaron 45 (31b 3x4 3x6)

Dinda begins well giving away only seven runs in his first over. KKR 89-2 in 11 overs.

Half way through, KKR are 82-2.

Kolkata looking in a fine position. Lynn has already hit three sixes and three boundaries in his knock of 41. KKR 76-2 in 9 overs.

Lynn continues to impress as partnership crosses 50. Starc took a good catch in the deep but his leg stepped on the rope. Lynn on 39. KKR 66-2 in 2 overs.

The partnership reaches 32 with Kallis batting on 19 and Lynn on 17. KKR 42-2 in 6 overs.

Lynn gets back to back boundaries as the pair looks to be going good at the moment. KKR 38-2 in 5 overs

A fine start from Aaron but for a cracking straight boundary from Lynn. KKR 28-2 in 4 overs.

Kallis has a big responsibility at this situation. He cuts a classic one to the fence as KKR reach 22-2 in 3 overs.

Kolkata are in crises here. Two wickets already lost as Manish Pandey failed to read the swing to offer a simple catch to Kohli at cover point. KKR 10-2 in 1.2 overs.

Manish Pandey c Kohli b Morkel 5 (3b 1x4 0x6)

In-form Manish Pandey joins Kallis. KKR 6-1 in 1 over.

Gambhir fails again. He is caught unawares from Starc's beauty. KKR: 1-1 in 0.3 overs.

Gautam Gambhir lbw b Starc 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Gambhir and Kallis open for Kolkata. Gambhir has got out for ducks in his both innings. Starc is opening the bowling for Bangalore.

Playing XI:


KKR: Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Chris Lynn, Suryakumar Yadav, R Vinay Kumar, Sunil Narine, Mornie Morkel, Umesh Yadav.

RCB: Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers, Albie Morkel, Ashok Dinda, Yogesh Takawale, Mitchell Starc, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Aaron, Muuttiah Muralitharan

It's official. Kohli says Gayle still has a stiff back but is recovering well. Muralitharan will be playing today

Already in top form this season, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be further boosted by the likely return of Chris Gayle against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Kolkata have also been impressive but their batting has been a bit of a concern with their skipper Gautam Gambhir still not scored a run in two innings.