RCB vs KKR report: Russell blitz thumps Kohli-ABD magic

Phew!. Another chase, another flurry of sixes and Andre Russell walked home with 13-ball 48 run knock that included seven thumping sixes. RCB did all they could. Kohli and ABD got the big runs, the spinners choked the middle overs and brought the equation to 53 off 16 balls.

And then Russell happened. In the nine balls he faced there on he bludgeoned seven sixes, all clean and big and kept RCB winless in IPL 2019 as the legend of Dre Russ grew stronger and stronger.

Inhuman power, the bat swing of a Beast?

For giving the crowd plenty of catches, match-winner @Russell12A is your Man of The Match ? #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/aF0vvPsTgJ

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 5, 2019

The Kohli-ABD show

Earlier in the evening, things finally came good for RCB. Parthiv Patel started solidly and gave a foundation and from there on Kohli and AB de Villiers took over.

ABD started off slowly scoring 16 off 15 balls but broke the shackles by scoring a brilliant four off Narine in the 13th over. And then there was no looking back.

From 12 to 17th over, the duo of Kohli and ABD ransacked 76 runs but both departed in successive overs and it seemed like RCB wouldn’t finish with a flourish.

But Marcus Stoinis scored two fours and a six in the 20th over against Prasidh Krishna and RCB finished with 205 runs.

Rab ne bana di Jodi!!!! 172-1 from 17 overs!!!! #playBold #RCBvKKR #vivoIPL2019 pic.twitter.com/MSwpg9U0t8

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 5, 2019

Negi, Chahal restrict KKR’s hitters

KKR began their chase with Chris Lynn hammering Tim Southee for 17 runs in the first over. Navdeep Saini removed Sunil Narine in the next over but Chris Lynn kept the momentum going with his thunderous hitting.

With Robbin Uthappa joining Lynn in the hitting game, Kohli brought in Pawan Negi in the tenth over and things happened for RCB again.

Also read SRH vs MI preview here.

Negi removed Uthappa in his first over and then castled Lynn with a beautiful delivery. Yuzvendra Chahal put the brakes from the other end and it seemed like RCB were set for their first win of Indian Premier League season 12.

Chahal finished the spell by removing Rana and Saini removed Karthik in the 17th over.

The Russell carnage 

Before this year no one had ever got 53 off the last 3 overs to win an IPL game. Thanks to Andre Russell, KKR have done that twice already – both *easily* in the end. Russell is redefining what is attainable – and considered normal – in T20.

— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) April 5, 2019

With 53 needed off 18 balls, Siraj started with two dots to Russell but then bowled a full-toss that was called a no-ball. Russell tonked that over mid-wicket for a six and it was the beginning of the explosion.

We have finally got back to our senses, crazy run chase by the Knights at the Chinnaswamy! ??#RCBvKKR #VIVOIPL #KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/7JPotUh3ba

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 5, 2019

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Stoinis who came to complete Siraj’s over was muscled for two sixes and in the next over Tim Southee was cantered for four sixes in five balls as Russell gave KKR another thrilling win.