New Delhi:
Virat Kohli's 67 along with AB de Villiers' 59 helped Royal Challengers Bangalore to break jinx and register their first victory in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). SCORECARD
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RESULT: Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kings XI Punjab by 8 wickets (Virat Kohli 67, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/30)
Pressure..Pressure! Just 3 runs off the first three balls! 17 needed off 9 balls now!
18 runs of the 18th over! The equation has now come down to 20 runs off 12 balls! Can RCB register their first win and break jinx today?
Takes one, Drops one - That's Murugan Ashwin for you!
What an over by skipper Ravichandran Ashwin. Just 6 runs from it. Bangalore need 38 off 18 balls now! This match is going all down to the wire.
WICKET: A brilliant innings from Virat Kohli comes to an end. Mohammad Shami bowls a short of a length delivery, Virat tried to pull it over the mid-wicket fielder, but went straight into the hands of Murugan Ashwin.
Virat Kohli is playing a captain's knock here. And de Villiers is showing his class! Kings XI Punjab need to break this partnership if they wish to stay in this game for long. After 13 overs, it's 117/1.
Both Kohli and de Villiers are keeping Royal Challengers Bangalore on top. The partnership between two is now 37, and this remains to be seen if they can help the side to win their first game of the ongoing edition. After 9 overs, 80/1.
The powerplay belongs to Royal Challengers Bangalore even when hey lost in-form Parthiv Patel. Both Virat and de Villiers are looking good in the chase. After 6 overs, it's 63/1.
WICKET: Ashwin slowed it in the air, and Parthiv was litle early in the shot! First wicket DOWN! Even then, Royal Challengers Bangalore are scoring 11 runs per over. After 4 overs, it's 44/1.
Both Kohli and Parthiv are off to a blistering start. The duo is hammering the bal all-around the ground and are looking solid for a good partnership here. After 3 overs, it's 36/0.
So the second innings action begins as Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel come out for the chase! Curran will open the bowling for Punjab! HERE WE GO!
Kings XI Punjab 173/4 in 20 overs vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (Chris Gayle 99*, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/33)
Virat Kohli drops Chris Gayle on 84. After 18.4 it's 154/4.
4 overs still to go! 127 runs already! If Gayle can stick for an over or two more, Kings XI Punjab might see themselves ina very strong position. For RCB, the death bowling hasn't been that good in the tournament so far, they would be looking to change that statement today!
WICKET: Trapped right in front! Moeen Ali tossed the ball up, Curran tried to play reverse sweep, but missed the ball completely. After 13.5 overs, it's 113/4.
SIX. WICKET. SIX. WICKET. SIX. WICKET. - This has been the story of this game! Sarfaraz departs!
Though Kings XI Punjab has lost two quick wickets, but Chris Gayle is still out in the centre. The way team is going, they will try to end with a score of over 200. After 11 overs, it's 99/2.
WICKET: Knocked him over. An absolute ripper. Mayank Agarwal was in two minds and will have to go gap to the pavilion. Chahal picks his second.
WICKET: KL Rahul went down the ground, trying to clear the inner circle, but misses the ball completely. Yuzvendra Chahal provides all-important breakthrough!
The powerplay belongs to Kings XI Punjab. Both Gayle and Rahul took their time before opening their arms. Chris Gayle, as he has been in this tournament - looking really solid for big. He has 'Universe Boss' sticker on his bat, and he showing why! After 6 overs, it's 60/0.
Both Chris Gayle and KL Rahul took a while to settle in but once they have, the duo is looking really solid for big. Gayle has already smashed two boundaries as Punjab gets to 21/0 at the end of three overs!
Royal Challengers Bangalore in last hurdle. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul are out in the middle. And it's game time!
Here are the playing XI for two sides:
Kings XI Punjab: Lokesh Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, Nicholas Pooran(w), Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Andrew Tye, Mohammed Shami, Murugan Ashwin
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Parthiv Patel(w), Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Marcus Stoinis, Moeen Ali, Akshdeep Nath, Pawan Negi, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj
The toss is scheduled to happen in 20 minutes time. RCB has struggled to find their best eleven and this game will once again be an opportunity to go with a balanced squad. For Punjab, Chris Gayle's inclusion remains doubtful after he experienced a small niggle in his lower back against Mumbai Indians. We will be bringing you all the updates. So stay tuned.
Virat Kohli is perhaps the lone batsman who has done well for his team till now. He has scored 201 runs in six appearances and that is still not good by his own standards. He will have to lead from the front and bank on the bowlers to deliver. AB de Villiers and Parthiv Patel have also done well in the batting department, but the duo lack consistency. On the bowling front, the team is dependent on Yuzvendra Chahal to do the job, which is affecting team's performance on a holistic view.
Hello and a warm welcome. We are all set to witness another crackerjack of an encounter in the twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League as Kings XI Punjab hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore. Virat Kohli's men will look to open their account and Punjab, on the other hand, will look to make their ponts reach double digit mark.
