Chennai, April 18: The Royal Challengers Bangalore hammered Kolkata Knight Riders by 39 runs here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (April 18). This is the first time RCB is winning the first three matches in the IPL and thus they went on top of the points table with 6 points.
The high-flying Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on dangerous Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL 2021 match
The RCB under Virat Kohli are on a mini roll after winning the first two games of IPL 2021 and they will be the more confident unit. The KKR under England captain Eoin Morgan will want to return to the winning ways after stumbling in their previous match.
However, toss will be important at Chepauk as we have seen in the past matches. The team predicting the spin of the coin correctly will be eager to bat first and get a total around 160-165 and that can leave the opponents in a marshy place as the pitch becomes slow as the match progresses.
We have seen it in the match between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The runs taken in the Power Play too will be very crucial as on a slow pitch those runs can make a telling difference.
So, who will blink on Sunday? Catch all the action from the match between RCB and KKR here.
Adieu. But stay tuned at MyKhel for the match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings.
This is the first time RCB is winning the first 3 matches of the IPL. 6 points from 3 games and they go on top of points table. Grand Start.
RCB beat KKR by 39 runs.
Dre Russ has been clean bowled by Harshal Patel for 31. KKR 162/8.
Series of yorkers by Siraj to keep Russell silent.
Wicket no 7: Kyle Jamieson snaffles Cummins for 6. KKR 161/7
Bowled'im! Jamieson saw Shakib shuffling across and bowled a laser-guided yorker to castle him for 25. KKR -- 155/6.
6, 4, 4, 4, by Russell off Chahal
84 runs from last 30 balls. Russell and Shakib at crease.
Andre Russell is in. KKR's last hope literally.
That did not cost RCB anything. Harshal Patel snaffles Morgan two balls later. Kohli does not make mistake. Out for 29. KKR 114/5
Siraj and Chahal together mess a catch offered by Morgan. Lack of communication.
93 runs off 42 balls from here for KKR to win.
Harshal Patel comes in the 12th over.
It is good to see Chahal having a good game. He has been pilloried in the last few months.
Shakib al Hasan is new batsman
Wicket no 4: Chahl traps Karthik lbw for 2. KKR 74/4.
It is a tough shot to play, the cross-bat sweep at Chepauk. Rana attempted it with not so pleasant result.
Incidentally, it was Chahal's first wicket in IPL 2021.
WICEKT NO 3: 66/3. Nitish Rana picks Devdutt off Chahal. Out for 18.
KKR skipper Eoin Morgan arrives.
Wicket no 2. Rahul Tripathi top edge a sweep off Sundar and Siraj makes no mistake. Out for 25. 57/2 in 6 overs.
KKR goes past 50 in the 6th over. Chase is truly on.
Mohammad Siraj into attack. KKR is 45/1 after 5 overs.
KKR has to maintain the tempo as there is no other way to hunt down 205. Maxwell is out of ground while Washington Sundar replaces Jamieson.
Gill c Dan Christian (Sub) b Jamieson 21. KKR 23/1
4, 6, 6, Gill off Jamieson
KKR chase begins. Gill and Nitish Rana are on the park.
KKR will require 205 and we will back in a few minutes
RCB ends up with 204/4.