IPL 2024 | Twitter breathing as Dre-Russ three-fer denies stellar RCB show in cliffhanger

04/21/2024

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru extended their string of defeats as Kolkata Knight Riders edged past the former by one run. Chasing 223, the visitors put up a commendable batting display, with Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar notching up half-centuries, culminating in a nail-biting climax.

Opting to bowl first backfired for Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Faf du Plessis as they faced Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Kolkata's openers, Phil Salt, and Sunil Narine exploited RCB's bowling, making 55/0 in just four overs. However, RCB found respite by dismissing the dangerous duo during the powerplay. Venkatesh Iyer's early departure further dented Kolkata's innings. Despite this, Shreyas Iyer and Rinku Singh steadied the ship, propelling Kolkata to 137/4 in 13 overs before Rinku's dismissal. Kolkata's skipper showcased his prowess with a quick fifty, guiding his team to 177/5 by the 17th over. After his departure, Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh's quickfire propelled KKR to a formidable total of 222/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

In response, the visitors started strongly with du Plessis and Virat Kohli reaching 27/0 in two overs. However, Kohli fell victim to a contentious no-ball decision off Harshit Rana's bowling in the third over. Subsequently, Varun Chakaravarthy dismissed du Plessis in the following over. Despite this setback, Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar steadied RCB's innings forging an impressive 87-run partnership. The momentum shifted when Andre Russell claimed the wickets of Jacks and Patidar in the 12th over. RCB continued to lose wickets and with 49 needed off the last five overs and all eyes turned to Dinesh Karthik and Suyash Prabhudessai to overhaul the chase. However, the veteran was dismissed in the 19th over, dashing RCB's hopes. With 21 runs required off the final over, Karn Sharma showed nerves of steel, smashing three sixes off Mitchell Starc's over. The tension heightened as the visitors needed just three runs off three deliveries. However, Sharma's dismissal on the penultimate ball left RCB needing two runs off the final delivery. Despite a valiant effort, Lockie Ferguson and Mohammed Siraj couldn't secure the required runs and handed Kolkata Knight Riders a thrilling victory on the last ball.

To the audience

— MediaReigns (@MediaReign58975)

What a last over game!

🚨🚨🔥🔥KKR WIN THE GAME BY ONE RUN

WHAT A GAME WHAT A LAST OVER💜💜💜 |
— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe)

This was intense

Intense drama! Starc going for 3 sixes wasn’t part of the script! Added a lot to the drama. Just when RCB felt it was done did Starc get the caught and bold! What a finish! held nerve and Starc gets away with a really modest effort.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar)

Destroying

2X2 monstrous overs from KKR’s bowling unit - Sunil Narine and Andre Russell !

Destroying RCB’s batting order in minutes 😈

P.S. all this at the cost of 🤐. No comments 👎🏻. Umpires 👌🏻
— Not_your_type💎💫 (@Girlwitha_plan)

Tyipical RCB

At one stage RCB were 137 for 2 and now they are 156 for 6 typical RCB.
— Shivam Sinyal (@ShivamSinyal)

Sure in the squad

If Dinesh Karthik wins this for RCB he should be surely there in the world cup squad.
— Devansh (@AFC_Dev17)

Need sensible cricket

Required Run rate is just 9.6, we need to play sensible cricket now, instead of just blind hitting.

Please win it for fans 🙏🙏
— αbhι¹⁸ (@CricCineHub)

Smashing