Rapidly Crumbling Bengaluru

Two overs of implosion - 12th and 13th - after Jacks, Patidar 50s sees another middle order go to pieces for RCB as KKR eke out last-ball win

Karn Sharma's almost-heist

With 15 runs remaining off the last over, Karn Sharma almost pulled off a heist for his franchise, hitting three sixes off Mitchell Starc but ultimately falling to the speedster as Kolkata Knight Riders edged past Royal Challengers Bengaluru by just 1 run.

Between the 5th and 11th overs, it was looking like smooth sailing forrc bas will jacks and raj at pat id ar smashed thek kr bowlers all around the field while taking their team to 137/2 in 11 overs. Enter Andre Russell, snapping up both batsmen in the same over as Bengaluru’s penchant for collapse returned with a vengeance.

Sunil Narine would also strike twice in the 13th over as Cameron Green and Mahipal Lomror were sent back with RCB tottering at 155/6. Dinesh Karthik would give RCB some hope but he too was snuffed out by Russell.

Jacks took Kolkata’s record signing Starc to the cleaners, marauding 22 runs off his second over as the Australian continued to leak runs. He would reach his half century in 28 balls as the Kolkata bowlers had no answer to the onslaught.

At the other end, Patidar would find form after starting the IPL on a below par note, smashing Suyash Sharma for 22 runs in the 10th over, bringing up his 50 in just 21 balls as RCB raced towards the target of 223.

Rana has last laugh

Vi rat kohl is mashed harsh it ran a for a four off the first delivery he faced. He would send the 54k-strong crowd into frenzy when he pulled him for a six in the same over.

Ran a, however, would have the last laugh ans a dip ping full toss caught kohl io ff guard and for a caught-and-bowled dismissal. It was reviewed but hawk-eye confirmed the ball’ s trajectory tobe dipping below the waist and the dismissal stood, leading to a frustrated Kohli having a word with the umpire before trudging off.

Knights’ inconsistent batting

With the mercury touching 41 degrees in Kolka ta, most experts predicted the team who won the toss might opt to bat first bu tr cb captain Fafd uP less is decided otherwise.

The strategy was brought into question as soon as the match began with phil salt smashing Mohammed Siraj for a six and a four in the first over before following up with two fours in the second as the RCB fielders were run ragged under the unrelenting sun.

Lockie Ferguson would be the next bowler tobe hammered as the english man continued his destruction, bringing up KKR’S 50 in 3.5 overs. He would, however, miss his 50 as he was caught out by Rajat Patidar off Siraj for 48 (14).

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer had to play the anchor role for his franchise yet again as he slowly rebuilt the Knights’ innings after wickets fell all around him with Narine and Angkrish Raghuvanshi both failing to contribute. Venkatesh Iyer would follow suit as KKR were four down even before the 10th over.

Sh rey a s’ s 50 from 36 balls may not look like a typical T20 innings but it went a long way in steadying the faltering Knights. He would fall soon after trying to clear long-off as Du Plessis took a marvellous diving catch.

Ramandeep Singh, who had scored a 17ball 35 in the first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad here, smashed two six es and a four in the 19th over, enabling KKR to cross 200. He was accompanied by Russell, who stayed not out with 27 runs while Singh scored 24 off just 9 deliveries to help the team reach 222. BRIEF SCORES: KKR: 222-6 in 20 overs (S Iyer 50, P Salt 48) bt RCB: 221 all out in 20 overs (W Jacks 55, R Patidar 52) by 1 run

Sportzpics/bcci KKR players celebrate after their last-ball win over RCB on Sunday.