Royal Challengers Bangalore secured their first points of IPL 2022 by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by 3 wickets at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday. Chasing 129, RCB were in trouble at 17 for 3 but Sherfane Rutherford led the revival of the lower order. To deny KKR
Wanindu Hasaranga was the star for RCB with 4 for 20, while Harshal Patel took 2 for 11 in his 4 overs. In 2021, Purple Cap winner Patel threw two maidens to strangle KKR after they lost their top-order to some poor shot selection.
In reply, RCB had a poor start too. Anuj Rawat fell to Umesh Yadav in the first over while Trent Boult sent back Faf du Plessis in the second over of the innings. Umesh then took the big wicket of Virat Kohli, before David Willey and Sherfane Rutherford took RCB’s innings forward with a solid fourth-wicket partnership.
Sunil Narine dashed KKR’s hopes with the wicket of Willie in the 11th over but Shahbaz Ahmed showed plenty of restraint for Rutherford’s teammate as RCB sealed their account for IPL 2022 after losing to Punjab Kings in their first match. opened.
Kohli, FAF fail
Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a screeching start in their chase of 129 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Umesh Yadav shed the first blood for KKR when he dismissed Anuj Rawat in the first over. Trent Boult further dodged RCB by sending back Faf du Plessis in the second over of RCB’s innings. Du Plessis scored 88 against Punjab Kings and that wicket raised KKR’s hopes.
And then in the third over, Umesh Yadav took the big wicket of Virat Kohli as RCB were reduced to 17 for 3 in 2.1 overs. By then, wicketkeeper Sheldon Jackson, who had fallen for a first-ball duck, had taken two catches and KKR was still pretty good in the game after scoring 128 runs. At that point, KKR fans must have undoubtedly thought of the night when RCB was there. Got out for 49 runs. Could there be a repeat?
rcb claw back
David Willey and Sherfane Rutherford stopped the slide for RCB with a steady fourth wicket partnership. The pair added 45 runs to calm some nerves in the RCB dressing room. Willie and Rutherford absorbed the pressure well and the low goal meant they didn’t have to take any undue risks.
Sunil Narine dismissed Willie in his third over to give KKR a glimmer of hope, but those hopes were soon dashed by Shahbaz Ahmed, who helped Rutherford eventually guide RCB to a comfortable victory .
Hasranga destroys KKR
Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel dealt a blow to Kolkata Knight Riders after Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bowl. Hasaranga took 4 for 20 in 4 overs including the wickets of Shreyas Iyer and Sunil Narine, while the 2021 Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel removed Sam Billings and the dangerous Andre Russell. Also, Harshal was very stingy and his spell involved two maiden overs. He scored 2 runs for 11 wickets in his 4 overs.
KKR stuck to their attack strategy at all costs but nothing worked against RCB on Wednesday. It was shocking to see only one batsman playing an aggressive shot to go back to the pavilion. Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana and Shreyas Iyer fell in the first 7 overs. The move to send Sunil Narine down the order didn’t work for the Knight Riders and Sheldon Jackson, who didn’t get to bat against Chennai Super Kings, fell for a golden duck.
Andre Russell threatened to add some impetus to KKR’s score but was done by Harshal Patel, who had done well to tie the Caribbean big hitter.
Umesh Yadav’s cameo did little to honor KKR’s total, but the team – they were eventually bowled out for 128.
In the end, KKR’s aggressive intent did not bear any fruit for them against a bowling attack that was clearly determined to revive itself after a loss to Punjab Kings in a high-scoring match at the same venue a few days back.