IPL 2019: KKR vs RCB Review: Kohli’s ton sinks KKR

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Virat Kohli scored his fifth IPL hundred to give Royal Challengers Bangalore their second win in the campaign. The hosts fell short by 10 runs and extend their losing run to four matches.

Image Courtesy: India TV

Virat Kohli was forced to name a change with AB de Villiers out for the match. The untimely incident meant that Dale Steyn made a return to his first franchise. Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik named an unchanged XI.

Things seemed bleak for the visitors after struggling through the initial phase of the game. However, the introduction of Moeen Ali at No.4 turned the game around as the left-handed batsman brought an instant spike in the scoring rate. Bringing up his 50 in just 21 balls, Moeen Ali clobbered 27 off Kuldeep Yadav before his dismissal.

Virat Kohli took over the reins and proceeded to score his fifth IPL ton. This blatant hitting saw RCB notch up 90 runs in their final five overs of the innings.

KKR’s pursuit for the target was not ideal as the top order put up a horror show for the home crowd. Dale Steyn marked his return with 2 wickets. Shubhman Gill and Robin Uthappa struggled immensely putting the two-time IPL champions in neck deep trouble.

With 120 required of the last seven overs, Nitish Rana and Andre Russell switched to the fifth gear to get near the vicinity of the target.

The RCB bowlers were not spared as Russell punished them with boundaries. The in-form Caribbean all-rounder scored 65 off just 25 before being run-out in the last over.

KKR eventually ended their innings 10 runs short of the total set by the opposition. This defeat leaves KKR at sixth with only five games left to play.

Brief Scorecard:

RCB 213-5 (20 overs) (V.Kohli 100; A.Russell 1-17)

KKR 203-5 (20 overs) (N.Rana 85; D.Steyn 2-40)

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