The Royal Challengers Bangalore [RCB] flexed their muscles on Monday to blow away Kolkata Knight Riders [KKR] away by 82 runs in what was a clinical all-round performance by the Virat Kohli-led outfit in Sharjah.
Chasing 195, Kolkata Knight Riders did not get off to the best of starts as debutant Tom Banton lost his off-pole for a 12-ball 8 courtesy a brilliant delivery by Navdeep Saini.
Shubman Gill took the attack to Mohammad Siraj in the fifth over by smashing him for two fours and a six but the introduction of the spin duo of Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal proceeded to put complete breaks on the scoring.
Dinesh Karthik also fell cheaply after Yuzvendra Chahal knocked him over for 1 as KKR slipped from 1-51 to 5-64 within a space of 3.1 overs.
Andre Russell took the attack to Isuru Udana post the time-out by smoking him for 4,64, but Udana had the last laugh as he induced Dre Russ into a mistimed stroke towards the off-side; one that was easily gobbled by Mohammad Siraj to effectively kill the run-chase.
Pat Cummins and Rahul Tripathi tried to hit a few lusty blows to bring down the margin of defeat but it was that sort of a day where every lofted shot found an RCB fielder under it. Ultimately, KKR ended up with 9-112; 82 runs adrift of the target.
AB de Villiers masterclass propelled RCB to 194 vs KKR
Earlier, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batted first and on the back of a 67-run opening stand between Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal and AB de Villiers whirlwind 23-ball 50, posted 2-194 in 20 overs.
Finch looked in great touch during his 37-ball 47. The right-hander stitched a 67-run opening stand and along with Devdutt Padikkal gave his team a platform to launch from.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to RCB’s win against KKR-
Convincing victory by @RCBTweets was #ABDevilliers playing on a different pitch? #WashingtonSundar #chrismorris
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 12, 2020
Chris Morris:
vs #CSK — 4-0-19-3
vs #KKR — 4-0-17-2#RCBvKKR #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/WgensO4lxp— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) October 12, 2020
This is a massive win for #PlayBold Improves their NRR. 5 wins at halfway stage. Three more will see them through…and with this team, they should manage more than just three out of 7. #IPL2020 #RCBvKKR
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 12, 2020
The moment @ABdeVilliers17 was good to keep wickets, the team’s balance was transformed. That is the biggest factor in this turnaround. #RCB
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 12, 2020
Yuzvendra Chahal 4 overs 13 dot balls 12 runs & big wicket of Dinesh Karthik
Washington Sundar 4 overs 8 dot balls 20 runs & wickets of Nitish Rana & Eoin Morgan
Spinners: 8-0-32-3 with 21 dot balls
What a stellar performance #RCBvsKKR #KKRvsRCB
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) October 12, 2020
Sundar spell by Washington. #RCBvsKKR
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 12, 2020
Rcb..Rcb..Rcb on Fire 🔥 🔥🔥 happy for this passionate man skipper himself @imVkohli @ABdeVilliers17 @yuzi_chahal @Sundarwashi5 @RCBTweets 😊👏👏👏🙌 @IPL
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) October 12, 2020
For all you @RCBTweets fans…..This was the kind of day you were waiting for. Complete performance. Many layers, many performers, excellent balance, tactics perfect and a genius in full flow.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 12, 2020
Fascinating this, for Tom Banton. Dominated at a small ground in the Blast; now here’s a chance at a small ground in Sharjah, but against a top class attack. This is the next challenge, for a wonderful young batsman. #IPL2020 #RCBvKKR
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 12, 2020
Said it before and saying it again helmets ⛑ or head protection for Bowlers, especially fast bowlers, about time .. #IPL2020 #RCBvsKKR
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) October 12, 2020
#RCB have read the conditions perfectly and their spinners, outstanding throughout the tournament, are on fire. I will repeat, this is the best balanced RCB team for a long time
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 12, 2020
Genius. Find me another word for @ABdeVilliers17. This one will do for now! Genius.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 12, 2020
Kohli-ABD become the first pair to share 10 century partnerships in IPL.
Most century pships in IPL:
10 KOHLI-ABD
9 Kohli-Gayle
6 Dhawan-Warner
5 Bairstow-Warner
5 Gambhir-Uthappa#IPL2020 #RCBvsKKR— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 12, 2020
Best shot in today’s match Abde Villiers!!🔥🔥😍♥️#ABDevilliers #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/Papt0jufxX
— VIRAT KOHLI TRENDS (@Trendvirat18) October 12, 2020
He is in different leauge AB Devilier @ABdeVilliers17 .. #legend @RCBTweets vs @KKRiders @IPL
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 12, 2020
2 balls went out of ground 🔥🔥#ABDevilliers ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/YBM7tRJYeb
— Mahesh Sam Fan (@AbhinavKarthik_) October 12, 2020
#ABDevilliers be like : pic.twitter.com/0H2wcPfuwD
— Aman Rai (@AmanRai28) October 12, 2020
And mr 360 !!!lights up the Sharjah stadium ! On his day it’s a different ball game ! Amazing to watch @ABdeVilliers17 . If @imVkohli starts going we can see 190 200 on board ! Game on !!! #RCBvKKR #IPL2020
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) October 12, 2020
Kolkata have been very impressive with their young bowlers against the top 3 batters in white-ball cricket. To suffocate the likes of Virat, AB and Finch you require certain kind of nous and @KKRiders bowlers have shown that in plenty #RCBvsKKR @RCBTweets
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 12, 2020
Will be very interested in seeing how #KKR manage their bowling resources. I am assuming that Russell is good to bowl all 4 overs because they could be a bowler short
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 12, 2020