In a low scoring encounter played between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, the Faf du Plessis-led RCB prevailed with 3 wickets and 4 balls to spare to record their first win in the tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore did well after winning the toss as they opted to bowl first and their decision proved justified when they bowled out Kolkata Knight Riders for a poor total of 128 from 18.5 overs.
Sri Lanka spin bowler Wanindu Hasaranga returned with figures of 4-0-20-4 whereas other bowlers chipped in with vital contributions such as Akash Deep, who took 3/45 from his 3.5 overs and Harshal Patel took 2/11 from his four, while sending down two maidens. Mohammed Siraj was also impressive as he returned with 4-0-25-1.
Almost all of Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen got starts on Wednesday night with Ajinkya Rahane scoring 9, Venkatesh Iyer making 10, Shreyas Iyer falling for 13 and Nitish Rana, Sunil Narine and Sam Billings contributing with 10, 12 and 14 respectively.
But their collective failure to convert starts into big scores hurt them, with West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell finishing at 25 from 18 balls with 3 sixes and a boundary. Umesh Yadav did well to free up his arms to make a brisk 18 from 12 balls with 2 boundaries and a six whereas Varun Chakravarthy remained unbeaten on 10.
In their reply, Royal Challengers Bangalore were rocked twice by Umesh Yadav as he removed Anuj Rawat for a two-ball duck and former RCB captain Virat Kohli for 12, while Tim Southee accounted for Faf du Plessis to leave the opponent reeling at 17/3 from 2.1 overs.
But David Willey and Sherfane Rutherford did well to add 45 runs for the fourth wicket to help RCB revive, who were boosted by a rapid innings of 27 from Shahbaz Ahmed. The Indian all-rounder added 39 runs with Rutherford and got another important partnership.
RCB held back their experience to wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik who knocked over the remaining runs in the final over of Russell, hitting his former Kolkata teammate for a six and a boundary to finish the proceedings in favour of his side.
RCB will next face Rajasthan Royals on April 5 whereas Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Punjab Kings on April 1.