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In the sixth match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a thrilling contest at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Chasing the paltry target of 129, the Challengers had the worst start, losing their top three batters – Anuj Rawat (0), Faf du Plessis (5) and Virat Kohli (12) – when the scoreboard read 17 runs only in 2.1 overs.
Before KKR could capitalise further, David Willey (18) and Sherfane Rutherford tried to calm things down for KKR. The pair formed a crucial stand of 45 runs for the fourth wicket before Sunil Narine dismissed Willey.
Rutherford then stitched another crucial partnership of 39 runs for the fifth wicket with Shahbaz Ahmed, who smashed three humungous sixes in his 20-ball 27 run knock before becoming a victim of Varun Chakravarthy.
Soon, Tim Southee bagged a couple of scalps in the 18th over to bring back KKR in the game. Southee removed Rutherford (28), and Wanindu Hasaranga (4) as the contest turned out to be a thriller. However, Dinesh Karthik (14 not out) held his nerves and took RCB over the finish line by hitting a six, followed by a four in the final over.
Earlier, RCB bowlers completely dominated the proceedings and bundled out the Knight Riders for a mere 128. Hasaranga lived up to his million-dollar price tag as he returned with a four-wicket haul while conceding only 20 runs in his quota of 4 overs.
Hasaranga was well supported by the pace trio of Akash Deep, Harshal Patel and Mohammad Siraj. Akash picked up three wickets for 45 in 3.5 overs, while Harshal bagged a couple for just 11 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Similarly, Siraj took one wicket while giving away 25 runs in 4 overs. Andre Russell, with 25 off 18 balls, was the highest run-scorer for the Knight Riders.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
DKKKKKKKK! 🥳🥳🥳🥳#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 #Mission2022 #RCB #ನಮ್ಮRCB #RCBvKKR
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 30, 2022
DK finishes in style. Congratulations @RCBTweets on your first victory. #RCBvKKR #IPL2022
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) March 30, 2022
💔
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 30, 2022
Never ever think @DineshKarthik is done …..
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 30, 2022
R C B 🔥🔥 our first win of the season. Dinesh Karthik scoring the winning runs against KKR a fitting ending to a game that seemed to have everything! #RCBvKKR
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 30, 2022
❤️💥 THRILLER OF A CHASE! RCB register their first win of the tournament with a nail-biting finish tonight!
📸 IPL • #RCBvKKR #KKRvRCB #IPL #IPL2022 #TATAIPL #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/2ToJ3DvElX
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) March 30, 2022
Dinesh Karthik wins the game v his former team Kolkata Knight Riders. Excellent decision from RCB to send DK lower down the order. By the time he came required rate was around 6, Varun had bowled out & he had to play out just 1 over of Narine
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 30, 2022
Dinesh Karthik – RCB's saviour in the end.
He took them out of what seemed like a temporary tunnel of darkness into the land of land.
KKR? Perhaps aimed for 200 on a tricky track and ended up with a below par total.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) March 30, 2022
As easy as that. DK hits the winning runs vs KKR. Sweeeeet.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) March 30, 2022
RCB win!!!!!
Great fight from KKR but Dinesh Karthik kept cool as a cucumber#KKRvRCB
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) March 30, 2022
32*(14) in first match and 14*(7) in second match – cool, calm, finishing as always by Dinesh Karthik – one of the best finishers in T20 format from India.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 30, 2022
