A sensational century from Virat Kohli, along with a blistering 66 of 28 from Moeen Ali helped RCB post a mammoth 213, but KKR, who were at once almost out of it, clawed their way back courtesy Andre Russell and Nitish Rana. The duo fought until the very end, but fell just short.
Nonetheless, the KKR-RCB rivalry saw another dimension today, as we were blessed wih a jaw-dropping finish to this memorable game.
That's all from me, Akarshak Roy, hope you enjoyed the coverage of this enthralling match-up.
Until next time, good bye.
KKR's late surge went in vain, as RCB hold on to their massive total
Moeen Ali, surprisingly, bowled this arduous final over.
The first couple of balls resulted in just one run, but Andre Russell looked like he could hit anything over the boundary.
The third ball went for six, but he missed the fourth ball, which was a well-executed yorker from the bowler.
As a result, RCB won the game by 11runs.
Stoinis mixed it up brilliantly, bowling short and slow, but he diappeared in the final three deliveries.
The first of the three sixes were due to the predictability of the short ball, while the other two were pure muscle.
Kolkata Knight Riders require another 24 runs with 6 wickets and 6 balls remaining
171/4 after 18 overs.
This match looked all but done when KKR lost four wickets with over 17 required. They once needed 114 from 7 overs, and now you couldn't completely bet against them.
17.6 Steyn to Rana, one-bounce-four, over covers, this is horrible field placement from the visitors
17.5 Steyn to Rana, outside off stump, swing and a miss
17.4 Steyn is missing his length, that was overpitched, six runs down the ground
17.3 Steyn to Rana, two runs, slashed past cover
17.2 Steyn to Rana, mid off is up, hit down the ground for six! This is poor from RCB, is the bowler is looking to bowl up the wicket, why would you keep your mid off inside the 30 yards?
17.1 Steyn to Rana, hit straight to cover, no run. Every dot ball counts from now!
152/4 after 17 overs
Kolkata Knight Riders require another 62 runs with 6 wickets and 19 balls remaining
16.6 Siraj to Russell, one run, down to long on
16.5 Dot ball! Russell tried sending that out of Eden Gardens, but failed to make contact
16.5 Wide ball, the pressure's back on the bowling side
16.4 TAKE A BOW, ANDRE RUSSELL! He's just not leaving the battlefield, six runs! Full and wide, it had to be punished. And boy, he sent that way back into the stands
16.3 Siraj to Russell, this is power hitting at its very best, four runs! Are RCB not planning to attempt even a single yorker?
16.2 Siraj to Russell, way too short and wide, wide ball
16.1 Siraj to Rana, straight driven to long off, single
138/4 after 16 overs
Kolkata Knight Riders require another 76 runs with 6 wickets and 24 balls remaining
15.6 Saini to Russell. short delivery, left by Russell. That's the length to bowl to him!
15.5 Rana blasts another one, but straight to midwicket, single
15.4 Full toss, pulled away over midwicket for another maximum. KKR are not giving up here, they are taking this game by the scruff of its neck now.
15.3 That has been bludgeoned! Rana sends it 15 rows back for a six! Length ball, and the left hander cashes in with conviction
15.2 Saini to Rana, tries to give himself room, Saini takes the pace off the ball and bowls just wide
15.1 Saini to Rana, full and straight, hit down the ground for four! That's the safest yet most aggressive shot to play
121/4 after 15 overs.
14.6 Chahal tosses another one, and Russell does what he does best, smash it out of the park. Is it too late now, though?
14.5 Chahal to Russell, this man isn't giving up the fight just yet, another big one! Six!
14.4 Chahal to Russell, six, fuil outside off, Russell bends to lift it over long on, mistimed but still six!
14.4 Chahal to Russell, wide
14.3 Chahal to Rana, smashed to deep cover for a single. Dale Steyn on the boundary gets his football shoes on, as he saves three massive runs
14.2 Chahal to Rana, hit straight back, not run
14.1 Chahal to Rana, brilliant line, giving nothing away, dot ball
101/4 after 14 overs.
13.6 Saini to Russell, spectacular! Slower ball yorker, even Russell had no answers to that
13.5 Saini to Rana, short and wide, cut away to deep cover, one run
13.4 Saini to Russell, pacy, short, pulled away, lands between two fielders, one run taken
13.3 Saini to Russell, shorter length, works well for Saini, dot ball
13.2 Saini to Russell, four runs, clears his front leg and slashes past backward point
13.1 Saini to Rana, cut to deep point for a single
94/4 after 13 overs
12.6 Chahal to Russell, another well-executed delivery, no run
12.5 Chahal to Russell, googly, no run taken
12.4 Chahal to Russell, six! Inside out, over extra cover, all the way!
12.3 Chahal to Rana, one run
12.2 Chahal to Rana, four, nothing wrong with the delivery, but swept beautifully past square leg
12.1 Chahal to Russell, one run, quicker ball outside off stump, struck through covers
81/4 after 12 overs.
11.6 Stoinis to Rana, two runs, splendid fieldind by Klaasen on the boundary ropes. He flew there!
11.5 He's gone! That marks the end of a miserable innings from Uthappa - 9(19) - considering the required run rate, that was abysmal
11.4 Rana tries to adjust himself in the crease but Stoinis follows him up with a yorker, just one run
11.3 Stoinis to Rana, length ball, no run
11.2 That has been carved through backward point for a four, brilliant strike
11.1 Stoinis to Rana, top edged, fell just short of Chahal at third man, unucky, two runs taken
72/3 after 11 overs
10.6 Chahal to Uthappa, flatter trajectory on the ball, drifts off the pads, no run
Next ball, wide, attempted reverse sweep but that was way outside the wide line
10.5 Chahal to Uthappa, cuts straight to point. This has been a poor, poor knock from the stylish batsman. He isn't able to get anything away.
10.4 Chahal to Rana, pre-meditated reverse sweep, single
10.3 Chahal to Rana, attempted reverse sweep, catches the outside edge of the bat, four runs
10.2 Chahal to Rana, short down the leg side, punished for four
10.1 Chahal to Uthappa, ball doesn't turn, pushed through covers for 1 run
60/3 after 10 overs.
9.6 Siraj to Rana, powerfully pulled in between long on and deep midwicket for four. However, these odd boundaries aren't enough.
9.5 Siraj to Uthappa, ran down third man for a single
9.4 Another one just past the outside edge! This is brilliant bowling from Siraj.
9.3 Extra bounce for Siraj, as Uthappa's attempted upper cut fails, no run
Next ball, four wides
9.2 Siraj to Uthappa, way outside off. missed by the batsman
9.1 Siraj to Uthappa, gives himself room and gorgeously crafts it throught covers for four
46/3 after 9 overs
8.6 Stoinis to Uthappa, clipped to square leg for a single, another fantastic over for the bowling side
8.5 Stoinis to Rana, single, straight to deep third man, this is accurate bowling
8.4 Stoinis to Rana, no run, these two have failed miserably, as far as rotation of strike is concerned
8.3 Stoinis to Rana, dot ball, guided to backward point, but not past him
8.2 Stoinis to Rana, dot ball
8.1 Stoinis to Rana, full outside off, steered to backward point
44/3 after 8 overs
7.6 Siraj to Uthappa, missed the ball, brilliantly bowled
7.5 Siraj to Uthappa, driven straight to covers, dot ball, this is poor batting from Uthappa. He needs to get the singles away, at least.
7.4 Siraj to Uthappa, attempted drive but missed the ball, no run
7.3 Siraj to Uthappa, dot ball, just outside off stump,
7.2 Siraj to Rana, pulled to long on for a single
7.1 Siraj to Rana, overpitched and outside off again, lovely timing, past covers for four
39/2 after 7 overs
6.6 Stoinis to Uthappa, outside off, defended to cover, run rate shooting up
6.5 Stoinis to Uthappa, off cutter, cut back in, defended by Uthappa
6.4 Stoinis to Uthappa, manouvered to midwicket, no runs
6.3 Stoinis to Rana, outside off, ran down thirdman for a single run
6.2 Stoinis to Uthappa, one run, flicked to deep square leg
6.1 Stoinis to Uthappa, straight delivery, clipped to midwicket, no run
37/3 after 6 overs
5.6 Siraj to Rana, wide of off stump, flown off the bat over point for a boundary
5.5 Siraj to Rana, outswinging, perfect length, pressure's building on the home side, dot ball
5.4 Siraj to Rana, brilliant line and length, dot ball
5.3 Siraj to Rana, similar delivery, left again, no run
5.2 Siraj to Rana, seam up delivery outside off, left alone by the batsman
5.1 Mohammad Siraj to Nitish Rana, dot ball
33/3 after 5 overs
4.6 Steyn gets another! Gill mistimes a half volley, Virat Kohli fumbles it but watches it and stakes claim in his second attempt
4.5 Steyn to Gill, pace off the ball, calmly defended back, no run
4.4 Steyn to Gill, slapped away between mid off and extra cover for four! That's his best shot on the night.
4.3 Steyn to Robin Uthappa, hint of outwing, Uthappa edges it, single taken
4.2 Steyn to Gill, just short of a length, but flicked exqusitely by the youngster for three. Chahal saved one on the boundary.
4.1 Steyn to Gill, dot ball, firmly struck to mid off
25/2 after 4 overs.
Navdeep Saini returned to bowl his second over, and started off with a couple of dots to Gill.
Narine missed his first delivery off this over as well, before Saini's extra pace proved too good for him. He top edged one to Parthiv Patel.
Saini finished the over brilliantly too. Just two came from this one, with KKR in a huge spot of bother.
23/1 after 3 overs
2.6 Steyn to Narine, mo run
2.5 Steyn to Narine, top edged, over thirdman for four
2.4 Steyn to Narine, short ball, pulled between midwicket and long on for four!
2.3 Steyn to Narine, good length outside off, swing and a miss, Narine must reassemble himself here
2.2 Steyn to Narine, attempted heave, misses it, dot ball
2.1 Steyn to Narine, good length, smashed through covers for four!
11/1 after 2 overs
1.6 Saini to Gill, mistimed pull shot straight to mid on, dot ball
1.5 Saini to Shubman Gill, dot ball, back of a length, well defended
1.4 Saini to Narine, hit to midwicket for a single
1.3 Saini to Narine, no run, swing and a miss, he isn't holding back at all
1.2 Saini to Narine, dot ball
1.1 Navdeep Saini to Narine, clears his front leg and caresses it over covers for four!
6/1 after 1 over.
0.6 Steyn to Lynn, he gets his man! WHAT A BOWLER HE IS! Lynn chips it straight to mid-off. Dale Steyn has arrived.
0.5 Steyn to Narine, good length, fielded by covers, one run
0.4 Steyn to Narine, dot ball
0.3 Four! That's four leg byes, a hint of in-swing to the left hander
0.2 Steyn to Narine, good pace and bounce. Dot ball.
0.1 Dale Steyn to start, and he's almost got Lynn first ball. That's dropped by Stoinis at first slip. What a dramatic start for the fast bowler!
213/4 after 20 overs.
20.0 After having got to his 100, Kohli found Shubman Gill at midwicket.
19.5 AND THAT'S A BOUNDARY! THAT'S HIS MOMENT!
200 up for RCB
19.3 That's humongous! SIX runs!
19.2 Stoinis powerfully smashes it to mid-wicket, misfield by Kuldeep, another boundary! KKR are not helping themselves here.
19.1 Gurney to Kohli, nicely played through covers for a single
197/3 at the end of 19 overs.
Virat Kohli took it on this over as well, as he struck a boundary and a six off Prasidh Krishna to close in on his 100. The last ball, Stoinis flexed his muscles to join the party as well.
18.1 Prasidh to Kohli, two runs, brilliant running
178/3 after 18 overs
17.6 Narine to Stoinis, good, sharp turn, Stoinis misses it, dot ball
17.5 Narine to Stoinis, finally a dot ball
17.4 Narine to Kohli, 1 run
17.3 Narine to Kohli, huge six! Just a bit short of length, and Kohli pounces on that one.
17.2 Narine to Stoinis, smart thing to take the single
17.1 Narine to Kohli, one run
168/3 after 17 overs
16.6 Gurney to Kohli, single, he'll keep strike
16.5 SIX! That's hit straight as an arrow! What a shot.
16.4 Gurney to Kohli, he's turning it on! That's a four!
16.3 Gurney to Kohli, two runs, hit hard to extra cover, good running
16.2 Gurney to Kohli, four. That was a poor delivery, short and down the leg side. Easy pickings for the RCB skipper.
16.1 Gurney to Stoinis, one run
16.1 Wide ball to Stoinis
149/2 after 16 overs.
Kuldeep goes around the wicket and it works! Moeen mistimes it to long on! But, let's stand up and applaud this knock from the southpaw.
15.5 First a wide owing to the pressure, and then another six! This in India's top spinner, mind you.
15.4 Moeen Ali smashes another one for 6! What is happening here?!
15.3 Another boundary. This man is in some form.
15.2 Moeen Ali brings up his 50 with a huge six! Kuldeep is being carted here.
15.1 Kuldeep to Moeen, four runs! Powerfully smashed down covers
122/2 after 15 overs.
14.6 Prasidh to Moeen, single
14.5 Prasidh to Moeen, flicked for a boundary! He cannot afford to bowl short now.
14.4 Kohli chips it to long on, but just short of Chawla, should have have gone for the dive?
14.3 Top edged by Kohli, over short thirdman for four
14.2 Prasidh to Moeen, one run
50 for Kohli!
14.1 Prasidh to Kohli, driven past covers, quick single, and that's 50 for the RCB skipper
110/2 after 14 overs
13.6 Flighted to Kohli, driven down the ground for 1 run
13.5 Kuldeep to Moeen, one run, good comeback by the bowler
13.4 Kuldeep to Ali, no runs
13.3 Kuldeep to Ali, dot ball
13.2 Short, wide and quick, Moeen uses the pace to bisect two fielders at point, four runs!
98/2 after 13 overs
13.1 Kuldeep to Moeen, another slog sweep down mid-wicket, another much-needed six. He's dealing in sixes now, Moeen Ali.
12.5 Narine to Moeen, inside edge, another one that goes down fine leg for FOUR
12.3 Narine to Ali, one run
12.4 Narine to Kohli, short, well played to mid-wicket for one run
12.2 Narine to Kohli, one run, short of length, pulled to mic-wicket
12.1 Narine to Moeen, drifting off line, easily flicked for 1 run
88/2 after 12 overs
11.6 Chawla to Moeen, single
11.5 Chawla to Kohli, tossed up and wide, driven past covers for a single
11.4 Moeen Ali takes a single, good comeback by Chawla
11.3 In the slot, slog swept over mid-wicket for a six! That is hugeee!
11.2 Chawla to Moeen, full length, googly, the batsman misses it. what a ball!
11.1 Piyush Chawla to Kohli, 1 run
79/2 after 11 overs
10.6 Short and wide, Moeen misses it altogether
10.5 Kohli steps down the pitch, drives it past mid on for a single
10.3 Russell to Kohli, no run, well fielded by Russell off his own bowling
10.4 SIX! Short ball, Kohli latches on to that, pulls it behind square for a maximum
10.2 Russell to Kohli, short and wide, punched straight to extra cover, no run
10.1 Russell to Kohli, guided past covers, in between the gap, two runs
70/2 after 10 overs
Kuldeep to Moeen, beaten. Tha'ts the length to bowl if he has to beat him.
9.5 Kuldeep to Kohli, one run, Kohli takes a stride and pushes it to long on
9.4 Kuldeep to Moeen, ball spins away from him, cut past cover for 1 run
9.3 Straight ball, Kohli uses his wrists to flick it for a single
9.2 Driven past covers for 1 run
60/2 after 9 overs.
9.1 Kuldeep to Moeen Ali, smashed down long on for a six! He's in some form, this man. No one in this side is hitting it as well as him.
8.5 He's gone! Another failure from Akshdeep, who top-edged it and found the fielder.
This was a failed experiment by RCB.
8.4 Russell to Nath, great bouncer, the batsman tries to hook over fine leg but misses it, dot ball
8.3 Russell to Kohli, driven down the ground for a single
8.2 Russell to Kohli, dot ball, the pace is right up there for the West Indian
8.1 Russell to Nath, short ball, cut hard, one run
57/1 after 8 overs
7.5 Kuldeep to Nath, no run
7.6 Kuldeep to Nath, easily helped down square leg for one
7.4 Kuldeep to Kohli, one run, lofted by Kuldeep, Kohli sweeps for one run
7.3 Kuldeep to Kohli, WOW! That was struck fiercely, four runs
7.2 Good reply by Kuldeep, dot ball
7.1 Kuldeep to Kohli, dances down the wicket, gets to the pitch of the ball and hits it straight down the ground for four! What a strike!
47/1 after 7 overs
6.5 Russell to Kohli, one run, well-fielded by Prasidh at the boundary, the ball was racing through
6.6 Russell to Kohli, bouncer! Good change-up from Russell.
6.4 Russell to Kohli, overpitched but the batter strikes it straight to covers, no run
6.3 Russell to Kohli, two runs, good use of the field
6.2 Russell to Nath, driven down covers for a run
6.1Russell to Kohli, perfect line and length, dot ball
42/1 after 6 overs.
5.5 FOUR! Outside edge from Kohli, runs down for a boundary. Prasidh has been unlucky on a couple of occasions today.
5.4 Prasidh to Kohli, dot ball, Kohli fails to make amends of the wrong line
5.3 Prasidh to Nath, one run, sensible batting
THAT'S A SIX!
Nath plays an exquisite on drive for a six! He used the pace well there, and broke the shackles.
5.1 Prasidh to Nath, no run, the balls fastens off the pitch, hits him on the pads
30/1 after 5 overs
4.6 Gurney to Kohli, good ball, Karthik gathers
4.5 Gurney to Akshdeep, good length, flicked down to fine leg but couldn't beat the fielder, 1 run
4.5 Wide ball, down the leg side, to Akshdeep
4.4 Gurney to Kohli, clipped down the leg side for one run
4.3 Slower ball, flicked to fine leg for 1 run
4.2 Ball jags back off the pitch, defended by Akshdeep
26/1 after 4 overs
4.1 Gurney to Akshdeep, back of a length, defended for no run
3.6 Narine to Kohli, again worked off his pads to the leg side, 2 runs
3.4 Narine to Kohli, single taken, good cricket after the boundary
3.5 Narine to Akshdeep Nath, guided down the ground for a single
3.3 Misfield for FOUR, Kohli hits it to mid-wicket, but the fielder juggles the ball and concedes four
3.2 Narine to Patel, He's GONE! Deep square leg in Nitish Rana comes into play, first wicket gone for RCB
3.1 Narine to Kohli, one run, worked off to mid-wicket
17/0 after 3 overs
2.6 Prasidh to Parthiv, the batsman makes room, smashes it over point for FOUR
2.5 Prasidh to Kohli, ball bounces a bit more, Kohli clips it away for a single
2.4 Prasidh to Parthiv, single taken, crisply struck by the southpaw
2.3 Prasidh to Parthiv, no run again
2.2 Prasidh to Patel, no run, extra bounce seen as Parthiv is hit on the thigh
FOUR!
2.1 Prasidh to Parthiv, 144km/h, Parthiv gets the inside edge, ball races away for a four
7/0 after 2 overs
1.6 Narine to Kohli, good length, hit straight to short mid-wicket
1.5 Narine to Patel, struck down mid-wicket for a run
1.4 Narine to Parthiv, spinning off the wicket on a good line, defended for no run
1.3 Narine to Kohli, once again flicked off the pads, one run
1.2 APPEAL! The ball turned and Kohli was trapped in front. Perhaps, the ball turned too much. Good decision by the umpire, poor review once again by DK.
1.1 Sunil Narine to Virat Kohli, flicked to mid-wicket, both batsmen complete the double
3/0 after 1 over
Gurney to Patel, ball rolls off the pads
0.5 Gurney to Kohli, ome run, back of a length, flicked to mid-wicket
0.4Gurney to Kohli, good length, defended for no run
Just short!
0.3 Gurney to Kohli, catches the outside edge but doesn't carry to first slip
0.2 Good length, drifting on middle, Parthiv clips it away for 1 run
0.1 New ball: Harry Gurney to Parthiv Patel, full length, swinging outside off, dot ball
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI:Parthiv Patel (wk), Virat Kohli (c), Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis, Heinrich Klaasen, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Dale Steyn, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini
Kolkata Knight Riders XI:Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik (capt, wk), Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav,Prasidh Krishna,Harry Gurney
KKR are unchanged from their previous game, while RCB are withoutAb de Villiers, who is ill. Heinrich Klaasen makes his season debut, alongside premium fast bowler Dale Steyn. The South African will don the RCb colours after nine long years.
JUST IN: KKR have won the toss and decided to bowl first.
KKR are sweating over the fitness of Andre Russell, whereas Dale Steyn could make his debut for RCB in his second stint.
Hello and welcome to Deccan Herald's live coverage of the game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Both sides have been far from their best in recent times, which only means this is a must-win encounter. Will KKr finally find home comforts this game, or will RCB start to spoil Dinesh Karthik's party?
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