IPL 2018: Important We Use Some Momentum that We Got Here - Dinesh Karthik

The Kolkata Knight Riders were back to winning ways after registering their 4^th victory of the tournament against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

It was a thoroughly professional performance by Kolkata which ensured they reached the target in the last over with six wickets in hand. It was a brilliant inning from Chris Lynn which eventually made sure Kolkata reached the target comfortably in the end.

The Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and put the hosts in. Brendon McCullum returned to the playing XI and played at the top of the order with Quinton de Kock. Bangalore got off to a pretty steady start. Both batsmen struck some excellent shots, to begin with.

McCullum was at his very best and struck four fours, and a couple of sixes during his knock of 38 runs off 28 deliveries.

The hard-hitting batsman shared a 69-run partnership with Quinton de Kock. However, both fell in quick succession which pegged the hosts back a little. However, RCB skipper Virat Kohli was at his sublime best and started resurrecting the innings. He played some exceptional shots in the process. Manan Vohra who made a comeback in this particular encounter was out for a golden duck, as Andre Russell castled him on the very first delivery he faced.

Kohli was at his imperious best. However, his teammates haven’t been able to support him very well thus far. He played a sensational knock of 68 off just 44 deliveries. It was studded with five fours and three hits over the fence.

Mandeep Singh made 19 off just 14 deliveries but got dismissed just when he was building a good partnership with Kohli.

Also Read: IPL 2018: Watch – Virat Kohli Takes Sensational Catch to Dismiss Dinesh Karthik

Eventually, Bangalore reached 175/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Kohli remained unbeaten on 68 off 44 deliveries while Colin de Grandhomme was not out on 11 off just six deliveries. Andre Russell was the pick of the KKR bowlers bagging 3/31 in his three overs.

Kolkata got off to a breezy start courtesy their openers Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn. The latter got dropped when he was batting on seven0 by Murugan Ashwin. It was a sitter which changed the whole complexion of the match.

Lynn went on to remain unbeaten and played a match-winning innings for the visitors. He cashed in on the opportunity and let Bangalore rue their missed opportunity.

Kohli in the post-match presentation said they didn’t deserve to win with the sort of fielding they put up today. Lynn and Narine shared a 59 runs partnership for the opening wicket. The southpaw made 27 off 19 deliveries which included three fours and a six. The partnership of Robin Uthappa and Chris Lynn proved to be pretty vital for Kolkata in the end.

The 49-run partnership between the duo took Kolkata to a position of strength.

Uthappa smashed three fours and three sixes during his knock of 37. He was sent back to the pavilion by Murugan Ashwin. He proved to be a decisive player for Bangalore.

However, his dropped catch proved to be the difference in the end. He bagged a couple of wickets for 36 runs, but in the end, he will rue the missed opportunity which eventually handed Kolkata a quite comfortable victory in the end.

Captain Dinesh Karthik played a cameo of 23 off just ten deliveries which included a couple of fours and a six. The dismissal of Andre Russell for a golden duck did give Bangalore a ray of hope. However, the innings of Karthik dashed their hopes. It was an out of the ordinary catch by Virat Kohli which ended Karthik’s resistance. The reaction after taking the catch proved that how disappointed he has been with his team in the most of the tournament.

It was Shubhman Gill who struck the winning shot. Kolkata won their 4^th encounter and again entered the top four.

Here is what winning skipper Dinesh Karthik said at the post-match presentation,

“There’s nothing special, nothing too bad about it, we’re right in the middle. Important we use some momentum that we got here Thought it was a par score. With AB not being there, we knew Virat was the big wicket. But he’s Virat, he came out all guns blazing. I’m somebody who believes in trusting the eleven players, not making too many changes. I have a lot of time for them in life (U-19 players). They’re great kids. They’re learning. After winning a World Cup you generally have a bit of a chip on the shoulder, but not these guys. Credit to Rahul Dravid too. They always have to say good things about him. When somebody like that is a coach at the U-19 level, it’s going to help you. Always trying to make sure to win the game. It’s always the path I’m trying to take when I go into bat.”