KKR vs RCB Innings Match Report: McCullum, de Villiers and Mandeep help RCB to 176/7

Match 3, IPL 2018
KKR vs RCB: 1st innings AB de Villiers 44, McCullum 43, Mandeep 37; Rana 2/11

The second of the Sunday doubleheader was labeled as the battle of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s batting versus Kolkata Knight Rider’s bowling. And, it was!

RCB lost de Kock early after being asked to bat first but Brendan McCullum put on a vintage show to entertain Eden Garden crowd. In the 9th over, Narine bowled a peach to dismissed the swashbuckling McCullum. Thereafter, it was de Villiers show. Over after over, the South African smashed the KKR bowlers in the stands. Kohli didn’t start in the same manner but joined him later. The duo put on a 64-run partnership to steady RCB’s innings.

When nothing seemed to work, Dinesh Karthik handed over the ball to part-timer Nitish Rana. Rana did not get the first one right but dismissed AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in two successive deliveries to give his side the much-needed respite.

At the end of the innings, Mandeep scored 18-ball 37 to help Royal Challengers Bangalore get to 176/7.