The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have finally registered their maiden win in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They defeated the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by eight wickets in Mohali owing to match-winning fifties from their star players AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. Earlier in the game, RCB restricted the hosts to a modest total of 173 despite Chris Gayle batting for 20 overs. The self-proclaimed Universe Boss remained unbeaten on 99 runs but his knock went in vain in the end.
The chase began with a decent amount of consistent boundaries by Parthiv Patel and Kohli in the powerplay. However, Ravichandran Ashwin brought himself into the attack to dismiss the southpaw with a brilliant delivery. But this was the only moment when the KXIP celebrated. The dream duo of Kohli and De Villiers got together then to make a match-winning partnership of 85 runs even as the RCB skipper crossed the 50-run mark.
WATCH – Mohammad Siraj Also Gets A Six And Out
Though they slowed down just like their opponents during the chase and the game became interesting with Kohli falling. But Marcus Stoinis came out and played with intent. Even De Villiers struggled in the end but Marcus Stoinis’ presence made sure that RCB were always on the track for victory.
It was Chris Gayle’s day in the first innings when the RCB won the toss and chose to field. Gayle was dropped on 8 by none other than De Villiers and he made the visitors pay for their fielding lapses. He and KL Rahul started well but Yuzvendra Chahal bamboozled the latter with some clever bowling. The leggie then had redemption by castling Mayank Agarwal who had hit him for a six only of the previous delivery.
Gayle was looking in his groove and he smacked some quick runs upfront to reach 48 off 24 deliveries. But then he slowed down considerably later after Rahul’s dismissal. The Universe Boss was struggling to time the ball and strangely, the KXIP never sent the hard-hitter Nicholas Pooran to bat.
WATCH – Yuzvendra Chahal Gets A Couple Of Six And Out
Sam Curran and Mandeep Singh batted ahead and the move failed terribly for them. Gayle dished out a few big hits late in the innings to remain agonizingly unbeaten on 99 runs as KXIP finished on 173/4. Eventually, it was not enough as Kohli and De Villiers first then Stoinis guided the RCB to their first victory of the season.
Brief score:
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 174/2 in 19.2 overs (AB de Villiers: 59*, V Kohli: 67; R Ashwin: 1/30) defeated Kings XI Punjab – 173/4 in 20 overs (C Gayle: 99*; Y Chahal: 2/33, M Ali: 1/19) by 8 wickets and 4 balls to spare
Here is how Twitter reacted after RCB’s maiden win:
Yeah, yeah. We've finally opened our account. 😉 #playBold #KXIPvRCB #VIVOIPL2019
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 13, 2019
Last two matches of RCB in Mohali:
2016 – Marcus Stoinis hits 6, 4, 0, 2, 2 when KXIP needed 16 from last 5 balls.
(RCB won by 1 run)2019 – Marcus Stoinis 28* off 16 balls and added 46 in 3.5 overs with ABD.
(RCB won by 8 wickets)#IPL2019 #KXIPvRCB— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 13, 2019
MI lost, RCB won.
RCB fans: pic.twitter.com/7n4ECQuIx4
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) April 13, 2019
With this win @RCBTweets are now title contenders once more. @IPL #IPL Go figure.
— Anand Vasu (@anandvasu) April 13, 2019
L L L L L L W
Finally victory for @RCBTweets this season.
Half centuries from @imVkohli & @ABdeVilliers17 lead them to an 8 wicket win over @lionsdenkxip. https://t.co/ObcxrPmWEM
Another @IPL double header on @5liveSport tomorrow. #bbccricket #IPL12 pic.twitter.com/llAnqmkhSo
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) April 13, 2019
Tenth time Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have 50+ scores for RCB in same inns – #RCB won 7, lost 3#KXIPvRCB#IPL2019#IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 13, 2019
Will the @RCBTweets go vertical 🙋🏽♀️ after this win, like the @SixersWBBL in #WBBL01 when they lost the first 6 and made the final? #KXIPvsRCB
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) April 13, 2019
Believe it or no, RCB have finally won a match this IPL season! 😊😎
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 13, 2019
Sarfraz Khan – yes, Sarfraz Khan – bowls the last over when you had six runs to defend #KXIPvRCB
— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) April 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/coolfunnytshirt/status/1117127148291219458
