Royal Challengers Bangalore who looked a very strong side on the paper lost to Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens in their opening encounter of the Vivo IPL 2018. Kolkata Knight Riders were not the team expected to triumph as their injury concerns overrided all other factors. But tonight, they came out strong against the RCB team and cruised to a win comfortably.

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The turning point of the match was definitely the 14th Over. Royal Challengers Bangalore had two batting gods at the crease and they were on their course in dishing out another assault that looked like inspired from heavens. In the desperate conditions, Dinesh Karthik handed the ball to Nitish Rana to bowl his gentle spin with RCB being 121/2 after 13 overs. The ploy was clear, teasing the legends into playing a false shot but what happened next blew everyone’s minds.

 

Seeing the part-timer bowler, ABD’s eyes lit up. The first ball was just a starter, pitched midway on the pitch with hardly any turn and speed, De Villiers launched the ball over midwicket in his characteristic style. Six!

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Rana not flinching whatsoever repeated the treat, AB De Villiers was not in the mood to let go anything, he went for another six but the ball did not connect with the center of the bat and just skied up. Mitchell Johnson set up himself under the ball and took the most important catch. AB De Villiers got out with 44 runs in just 23 balls with one boundary and five sixes!

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While the ball was in the air, Virat crossed ABD and fittingly took the strike for the next ball. Making a massive change in his length, Rana got into the Malinga mode and went for the bottom of the middle stump. Kohli failed to anticipate and guess what, NITISH RANA BOWLED VIRAT KOHLI!

Perhaps, a feat that every bowler in the world dreams of currently, Nitish Rana became the third man to dismiss ABD and Kohli of the successive balls after Jacques Kallis and Thisara Perera. The dismissals applied the brakes on the flying car of RCB. They eventually ended up with 176/7 which could have been a lot more.

The opening assault from Sunil Narine left RCB speechless. Before they could process how to get him out, the target was already reduced a nominal one. Nitish Rana and Dinesh Karthik ensured the run flow and later Andre Russell stroked some lusty blows.