RCB vs KKR: Narine and Russell blow away RCB at the Eden Gardens

Match 3, IPL 2018

RCB vs KKR, Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Player of the Match: Sunil Narine

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.

Taking the Royal Challengers Bangalore with a shock as Sunil Narine was sent to open the innings for Kolkata Knight Riders along side CA Lynn. Narine’s 50 of 17 balls left the whole crowd in Eden Gardens to stand in awe and amazement as once again the team batting second in Indian Premier League 2018 have won the matches so far. Narine gave the kick, Kolkata needed to initiate their run chase. It provided ample time to the batsmen as Narine played swashbuckling innings of 50 in just 18 balls. While the cheap dismissals of Lynn (5) and Uthappa (13) did create a bit of jitter amongst the KKR line-up, but a defiant 55-run partnership between Rana (34) and skipper Dinesh Karthik (35 not out) coupled with Andre Russell’s assault of Umesh Yadav in his final over, meant it was all hunky dory in the end for Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise.

A pristine drive to long-on by Vinay Kumar proceeded to complete the proceedings as KKR won by 4 wickets.

Match Stats: Royal Challengers Bangalore (6-176, AB de Villiers 44, Rana 2-11) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (6-177, Dinesh Karthik 35*, Umesh Yadav 2-27) by four wickets.