Virat Kohli, of India, hits 4 on the primary day of the second Check cricket match between India and West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, July 20, 2023.
Picture by RANDY BROOKS/AFP through Getty Photos, file
Virat Kohli made an incredible begin within the Indian Premier League (IPL) Match with a 30-ball half century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated the defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets within the opening match of the sequence at Eden Gardens.
Kohli secured Bengaluru’s run chase of 177-3 in 16.2 overs with an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls which gave his staff a successful begin to the profitable two-month lengthy T20 match.
Kolkata was restricted to 174-8 after Patidar received the toss and elected to subject.
Phil Salt, who was not retained by Kolkata for this season, was ruthless within the powerplay as Bengaluru shortly reached 80-0 within the first six overs.
Salt smashed spinner Varun Chakarvarthy (1-43) for 21 runs in a single over contained in the powerplay and Kohli smacked Australian quick bowler Spencer Johnson for 2 back-to-back sixes.
Chakarvarthy offered a late breakthrough when he had Salt caught as he tried one other large hit within the ninth over.
Kohli reached his half century when he belted Harshit Rana over cowl for his fourth boundary. Patidar smacked Rana for 4 boundaries in a single over in his knock of 34 off simply 16 balls earlier than he was dismissed, Liam Livingstone (15 not out) completed off the sport shortly with a six off Johnson and a boundary.
Earlier, Rahane made a assured begin with an aggressive half century for Kolkata, however spinner Krunal Pandya (3-29) ruined the house staff within the second half of the innings.
Kolkata cruised to 107-2 within the first 10 overs when Sunil Narine was dismissed for 44 off 26 balls. Nevertheless, Pandya’s flawless bowling allowed Kolkata to attain solely 67 within the ultimate 10 overs.
Pandya acquired the wickets of Rahane, Rinku Singh (12) and Venkatesh lyer (6) whereas Suyash Kumar had big-hitter Andre Russell clear bowled for less than 4.
Kolkata misplaced their power-hitters and slipped to 145-5 in 15 overs. Kolkata fell additional when Kumar Russell was dismissed by Kumar.
Josh Hazlewood (2-22) bowled nicely and allowed Kolkata to attain solely 9 runs within the first three overs earlier than Rahane and Narine blasted a 103-run stand.
Pandya, Hazlewood and Yash Dayal bowled nicely within the ultimate overs to limit Kolkata’s whole.
