Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched a 4-wicket victory against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) on Friday night. While KXIP was bundled out for 155 runs (19.2 overs), RCB (159/6) reached the target in 19.3 overs after losing 6 wickets.
RCB decided to field first after winning the toss. After the good opening three overs (32/0), KXIP faced a lethal fourth over bowling from Umesh Yadav where three wickets fell (36/3 in 4 overs).
KL Rahul and Karun Nair regained that innings with an important 58-runs partnership for the fourth wicket. After the opener KL Rahul was dismissed on 47 runs, KXIP’s wickets were falling in regular interval. Soon after Rahul, Nair also departed on 29 runs.
In the end, KXIP skipper Ravichandran Ashwin played a very important innings of 33 runs off 21 balls. His knock was very important for the team to cross the 150-run mark as KXIP was bowled out for 155 runs in 19.2 overs.
Among the RCB bowlers, Umesh Yadav was the highest wicket-taker with 4-0-23-3 bowling figure. Also, Chris Woakes (2/36), Kulwant Khejroliya (2/33) and Washington Sundar (2/22) picked up two wickets each while Yuzvendra Chahal (1/38) claimed a wicket.
Chasing down the target, RCB opener Brendon McCullum lost his wicket in the second delivery of that over without opening his account. RCB skipper Virat Kohli got a good start but failed to make his innings long as he was bowled by Mujeeb Ur Rahman for 21 runs off 16 balls.
South African duo Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers took the responsibilities to build up that innings. They put an important 54-run partnership for the third wicket.
Later, KXIP skipper Ravichandran Ashwin took back-to-back wickets in his last over which brought back the team into the match. In that over, Ashwin dismissed the set batsman de Kock for 45 runs and Sarfraz Khan for a golden duck.
AB de Villiers guided that innings in the crucial stage. At one stage, RCB needed 41 runs in last four overs. AB’s superb dominant batting performance at that time opened their chance for victory.
While de Villiers was dismissed on 57 runs off 40 balls, RCB was at the edge of their victory which was finished by Mandeep Singh (22*) and Washington Sundar (9*). RCB chased down the target successfully in 19.3 overs after losing 6 wickets.
Among the KXIP bowlers, Ashwin (2/30) grabbed two wickets while Axar Patel (1/25), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/29) and Andrew Tye (1/27) picked up one wicket each.
Now, we will look at the Twitter reactions of the match:
Hahaha!!! I can't stop laughing.
Virat kholi gets out followed by Anushka's ad "jaise yeh gaya, waise…
Dandruff Jayega"
Oh the irony!#RCBvKXIP #RCBvsKXIP #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/l78LmzBVdv— Kaustubh (@Kaustubh_95) April 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/TrollywoodOffl/status/984852808087191552
when u r the only one who didn't get seat in the metro#RCBvKXIP pic.twitter.com/pT3kZ0rnGc
— Dr Gill (@ikpsgill1) April 13, 2018
Now KKR must be feeling soo Jealous…. Umesh yadav is on FIRE#RCBvKXIP
— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) April 13, 2018
What a comeback from #RCB here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium courtesy one man – Umesh Yadav, who's been bowling like a dream.
KXIP – 50/3 after 6 overs. #PlayBold #RCBvKXIP pic.twitter.com/5d98pHhXRL— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 13, 2018
Mujeeb ur Rahman did in only his 2nd IPL game what his captain Ravichandran Ashwin couldn't in 10 IPL seasons.
Dismissing VIRAT KOHLI in the IPL. #IPL2018 #RCBvKXIP— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 13, 2018
No Rahul, can't throw away a ton like that. KXIP now risk having a low score unless the lower order out does itself.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 13, 2018
RCB released KL Rahul and he scored fastest IPL fifty..
RCB retains Sarfraz Khan and he scored golden duck..
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) April 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/BeingFlicked/status/984829098223484928
There is no one like AB de Villiers! #RCBvKXIP #IPL2018
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) April 13, 2018
Virat Kohli to #UdtaUmesh pic.twitter.com/FKs637yCuK
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 13, 2018
What a spell this is turning out to be! Umesh Yadav fighting it back for @RCBTweets . #PowerYourGame #RCBvKXIP
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 13, 2018
Till ABD is there, Punjab is going to be on the edge. Nail biting written all over this game now. #PowerYourGame #RCBvKXIP
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 13, 2018
2017 dekh ke jinhone aaj RCB ki haar pe lagaye the unki toh Lag gayi….#KXIPvRCB #RCBvKXIP
— Srijan Shukla (@Imsrij) April 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/gdrxz/status/984859782241644545
. @imVkohli Bats at his Best in International Cricket while @ABdeVilliers17 is at his Best in IPL. My personal observation #RCBvKXIP
— Alhad Nene (@Alhad_Nene) April 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/TweetsKohli/status/984859739887554560