Kolkata Knight Riders chase down 185 at Bengaluru

Kolkata Knight Riders won by five wickets as they successfully chased down the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s total of 185, with five balls to spare.

Royal Challengers Bangalore plundered 54 runs in last three overs to post a competitive 185 for seven after skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul struck half centuries in their Indian Premier League match against Kolkata Knight Riders here on Monday.

From 131 for four at the end of 17th over, RCB went past 180 with Shane Watson (34), Sachin Baby (16) and Stuart Binny (16) playing fine cameos. Watson's 21-ball knock was studded with five boundaries and a six.

Binny smashed two sixes and a boundary in the last over while facing only four balls. Umesh Yadav, who was allowed to continue despite bowling two beamers, was hit for 20 runs in the last over and finished with expensive figures of 1/56 in four overs.

Umesh gave away 23 runs in the 18th over, which turned things around for RCB.

Sent into bat after the coin landed in favour of KKR captain Gautam Gambhir, Royal Challengers Bangalore rode on a 84-run second wicket partnership between Kohli and Rahul to lay the foundation.

Young Rahul smashed six boundaries and two sixes during his 32-ball knock, while Kohli found the fence four times while facing 44 balls at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Royal Challengers Bangalore were dealt a blow as Chris Gayle, playing in his first game since returning from the West Indies after the birth of his daughter, gave away his wicket by going for an extravagant shot against Morne Morkel.

The South African pace ace got a bit of extra bounce that unsettled Gayle who mistimed a pull shot to give an easy catch to wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa.

Just before getting out, Gayle hit Morkel straight down the ground for a six.

Kohli and Rahul then got together to steady the innings by playing sensibly.

Rahul hit Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine for sixes, while Kohli preferred to play along the ground.

However, while trying to shift gears and accelerate the run rate, Rahul got out to Chawla in the 12th over with RCB at 92 for two.

A B de Villiers (4) failed to get going as he was trapped by Chawla. Kohli, who got a reprieve when Gambhir dropped a sitter off the bowling of Morkel, got out in the very next ball while trying to force the pace. Morkel (2/28) and Chawla (2/32) were the most successful bowlers for KKR, while Narine (0/45 in 4 overs) was a bit expensive.

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 185 for 7 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 52) vs Kolkata Knight Rider 189 for 5 in 19.1 overs (Yusuf Pathan 60*) Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets.