INDIA: In a dominant display of cricket, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have finally picked up their first points in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with a resounding 81-run victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
KKR Vs RCB
Shardul Thakur’s heroic innings of 68 off 29 balls, coupled with excellent spells from Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash Sharma, and Sunil Narine, proved too much for the RCB side to handle.
Despite a good start from KKR, thanks to opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored a crucial 57 off 44 balls to provide a solid start to the innings, after which KKR lost five wickets for just 89 runs.
However, Shardul’s blistering knock and a record-breaking 6th wicket partnership with Rinku Singh took Kolkata Knight Riders to a commanding total of 204 runs.
With Rinku Singh playing a perfect foil, the duo added 103 runs off just 45 balls for the sixth wicket. RCB’s death bowling floundered once again as they conceded 64 runs off the last five overs.
David Willey was the only bright spot for the RCB bowling, finishing with excellent bowling figures of 2 for 16 in his four overs. In response, RCB got off to a strong start with Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis smashing 42 runs off the first four overs.
However, KKR’s spin troika, led by Narine, turned the game on its head. Chakravathy’s googly barrage was too much for RCB’s top order, as he picked up three crucial wickets, including Kohli’s.
Suyash Sharma, the 19-year-old debutant, picked up three wickets on his first outing, effectively ending RCB’s chase.
KKR’s comprehensive victory is a massive relief to the team and their fans, who were frustrated by their poor start to the season. With the win, KKR moves to seventh place in the IPL standings, while RCB slips to fourth place.
The KKR side will hope to continue their winning form when they take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next match, while RCB will look to bounce back against the Chennai Super Kings.
Also Read: IPL 2023: Steely Sam Helps PBKS Clinch Second Consecutive Win, Defeats RR
