The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was searching for their maiden win of the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) while playing against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, but they failed again. After winning the toss, the KKR skipper, Dinesh Karthik decided to bowl first on a batting friendly wicket. As it happened in the earlier games, again Andre Russell took KKR over the line with 5 balls to spare while chasing 206 runs.

During the toss, the RCB skipper, Virat Kohli said that they have made two changes to the squad as Umesh Yadav and Shimron Hetmyer made way for Pawan Negi and Tim Southee. On the other hand, Karthik revealed that they have made just one change in the squad as Nikhil Naik made way for Sunil Narine.

WATCH – Andre Russell Smashes Two Hat-trick Of Sixes

Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel started well for RCB. Nitish Rana dismissed parthiv by in the 8th over of the match. Then came AB de Villiers to bat with Kohli and both the veterans helped RCB to make the score as big as possible. At the mark of 12 overs, they were 96/1 and in the next 5 overs they smashed as many as 76 runs but, Virat got dismissed on the first ball of the 18th over bowled by Kuldeep Yadav. 

After Kohli wickets De Villiers also got out in the next over but then, Marcus Stoinis took the onus on him to help RCB reach the total of 205/3 in their quota of 20 overs. 

During the chase, KKR had a fiery start, as Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine smashed 28 runs in the first 10 balls, but then came the dismissal of latter owing to a brilliant running catch by Pawan Negi. Despite that wicket, KKR managed to score as many as 59 runs in the powerplay. However, hey lost the plot after that as they lost wickets in regular intervals after that as Negi dismissed Robin Uthappa and Lyn in his back-to-back overs.

WATCH – Chris Lynn Clobbered Yuzvendra Chahal Out Of The Ground

Russell Storm

As a result of that, KKR needed 53 runs in the last three overs and then came the storm of Andre Russell as he smashed 48 runs in just 12 balls with the help of 7 sixes and a four. The 18th over was started by Mohammad Siraj but he had to go off as he bowled the second beamer of the match on the third ball of the over as and it was the first six of Russell. Stoinis continued the over but he gave away a couple of sixes.

KKR needed 32 runs in the last two overs and Shubman Gill gave the strike to Russel on the very first ball and then he smashed 28 runs on the next five balls of Tim Southee with the help of four sixes and a four. KKR chased down the toal of 206 runs with 5 balls to spare and 5 wickets in hand.

Brief Scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders – 206/5 in 19.1 overs (A Russell: 48*, C Lynn: 43; P Negi: 2/21) defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore – 205/3 in 20 overs (V Kohli: 84, Ab de Villiers: 63; S Narine: 1/30) by 50 wickets.