CHENNAI: Half-century from Virat Kohli (77) followed by finishing touches from Dinesh Karthik (28 n.o) and Mahipal Lomror (17 n.o) helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by four wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday. With the win, RCB opened their account in the points table.
Chasing 177, RCB did not have a perfect start losing both Faf du Plessis and Cameron Green early. But Kohli persisted. Having dropped in the first over, he had already hit four consecutive boundaries which gave the former RCB captain time to settle in. He was joined by Rajat Patidar, who scored a run-a-ball 18, as the duo built a partnership to keep RCB going.
After looking rusty in the opening game Kohli was in his element on Monday. He brought out the flicks, whips, punches and cover drives on his way to a half century. Even as Anuj Rawat failed, Kohli continued. He ran the hard twos as he always does, maintaining a strike rate over 150 as RCB strolled along. At a time when he is in contention for the T20 World Cup, Kohli once again showed why he is extremely good at chasing and what he brings to the table.
He particularly took a liking to Harshal Patel, picking up crucial boundaries. Kohli hit consecutive boundaries off Patel in the 16th over and it looked like he was going to run away with the contest. But Harshal provided the big breakthrough dismissing the former RCB captain for 77 runs. Although PBKS thought it was their chance to get back in the game, Karthik (28 off 10) and Lomror (17 off 8) spoiled their party. Lomror hit a six and four in the 18th over while Karthik did the same in the penultimate over bowled by Harshal. With ten runs needed in the last over from Arshdeep, Karthik started with a scoop for six and two balls later came the winning shot --- a four down the ground as RCB secured a four wicket victory.
Earlier, opting to bowl first, Mohammed Siraj was hit for consecutive boundaries by Jonny Bairstow in the third over. However, the Indian pacer had the last laugh, sending back the Englishman on the third delivery to give the early breakthrough. Joined by Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan played the rescue act as the duo tried to rebuild. Dhawan picked up boundaries off Alzarri Joseph, first a loft over cover and then a drive past mid-off. Prabhsimran, at the other end, hit Yash Dayal for a boundary as PBKS finished the powerplay with 40/1 on the scoreboard.
The duo were happy to rotate strike, but at the same time, they ensured one boundary an over. Prabhsimran hit Cameron Green while Dhawan Smashed Mayank Dagar over the ropes. Faf du Plessis was forced to bring in Glenn Maxwell and the Australian delivered the wicket of Prabhsimran (25) against the run of play. Along with Dagar, Maxwell kept things quiet ensuring the dynamic PBKS batting line-up were not running away with the contest.
The reward was reaped by Joseph as he got rid of Liam Livingstone with a short-pitched delivery. Maxwell immediately dismissed Dhawan and all of a sudden PBKS were down for 102/4 in 13 overs. Curran and Jitesh Sharma once again had to put their head down and keep the scoreboard moving. Sharma hit Dagar for consecutive sixes before securing another four off Joseph.
Curran picked up a couple of boundaries in the Dayal over before getting out in the same over for 23 runs. Siraj got rid of Jitesh for 27 from 20 balls but Shashank Singh's late blitz took PBKS to 176/6.
