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IPL: RCB beat KKR in the low scoring thriller

The Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Chasing 129, the match went into the final over before Dinesh Karthik hit Andre Russell for a six and a four to close the game. With this, RCB also earned their first win of the season. Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga emerged as the standout bowler from the RCB camp as they bundled out KKR on 128 after inviting them to bat first. The spinner picked four wickets in his quota and conceded just 20 runs. KKR started on a poor note losing Venkatesh Iyer 10 (14), Ajinkya Rahane 9 (10), and Nitish Rana 10 (5) in the powerplay overs. Shreyas Iyer also failed to do much as he was dismissed on 13 (10). Andre Russell did manage to light the stadium with some massive sixes, but he could only score 25 off 18 balls. In response, RCB got off to a shaky start with Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee picking three wickets inside the powerplay overs. David Willey and Sherfane Rutherfod then stitched a crucial partnership, and Shahbaz Ahmed also chipped in with a vital 27 off 20 balls.

 Chasing a target of 129, RCB recovered from a top-order collapse and chased down the target with four balls to spare. Earlier, Wanindu Hasaranga took a four-wicket-haul as RCB bowled out KKR for a below-par total of 128. KKR were reeling at 101 for nine before Umesh Yadav (18) and Varun Chakaravarthy (10) took them to a respectable total. Andre Russell top-scored for KKR with a decent 25, but Harshal Patel broke his resistance with his variations. Earlier, RCB won the toss and elected to bowl. 

Fast bowlers Tim Southee and Umesh Yadav claimed five wickets between them to rattle the Bangalore top and middle-order before Sherfane Rutherford’s 28 and an unbeaten 14 off seven by Dinesh Karthik got the team home.

Bangalore, led by new skipper Faf du Plessis, bounced back from their opening loss to register their first win of the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

Rutherford, a left-handed West Indies batter, put on crucial partnerships, including a 39-run stand with Shahbaz Ahmed, who made 27.

Southee took down Rutherford and then Hasaranga in one over to keep the game in the balance, but Karthik finished it off with a six and a four in the final over off Andre Russell.

The world’s most valuable cricket tournament has been expanded to 10 teams and 74 matches this season. Still, league games remain restricted to two venues, including Pune, with a limited crowd due to coronavirus-related restrictions.