By Souvik Ghosh/IBNS Apr 07, 2023
Kolkata/IBNS: A splendid batting performance backed by the spin bowling department powered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to outplay star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ninth match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 in front of the home crowd, which was safe to say divided in support for the two teams on Thursday.
KKR stunned RCB pulling off an 81-run victory at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Chasing a target of 205, RCB lost their first wicket in the form of Virat Kohli on whom hopes were pinned like in every other match.
??? ??????? ??? ?????!pic.twitter.com/m7ajeTekRi
KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 6, 2023
Kohlis departure for 21 was closely followed by skipper Faf du Plessis (23 off 12 balls) who won the toss in the evening and sent KKR to bat first.
RCB had no answer to the spinning trio of Sunil Narine (2/16), Varun Chakaravarthy (4/15) and young Suyash Sharma (3/30) who bundled the visitors for 123 in 17.4 overs, earning a jump in net run-rate which plays a crucial role towards the end of the tournament.
KKRs 204/7 was not all sweet in the beginning as the home team were reduced to 47/3 at one stage to much dismay to the franchises co-owner and actor Shah Rukh Khan, who was present in the VIP box to cheer the side.
Shardul Thakur walking towards dugout after his batting | Image Credit: Twitter/KKR
After Rahmanullah Gurbaz (57 off 44 balls) was dismissed followed by power hitter Andre Russell (0) in the 12th over, KKR were in a spot of bother with the scorecard reading 89/5.
Just when RCB were smelling an early finish of the KKR innings, Shardul Thakur counterattacked which continued until he scored 68 off 29 balls (9 fours and 3 sixes).
Rinku Singh, who gave silent support to Shardul for most of the innings, fired late to score 46 off 33 balls.
Shardul and Rinku together added 103 runs which turned out to be the turning point of the match.
A memorable first victory of #TATAIPL 2023 at home.@KKRiders secure a clinical 81-run win over #RCB ???? Scorecard - https://t.co/J6wVwbsfV2#TATAIPL | #KKRvRCB pic.twitter.com/0u57nKO57G
IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 6, 2023
Besides praising Shardul for the heroics, RCB captain Faf du Plessis felt they had conceded around 25 runs more to the KKR innings.
KKR skipper Nitish Rana not just credited Shardul but also heavily acknowledged Rinkus innings in the crucial moment of the match which could have gone either way.