Abu Dhabi: An all-round stellar performance powered Kolkata Knight Riders to earn a 9-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Eoin Morgan’s side got their second phase of the campaign underway crashing the much talked RCB batting line-up for just 92 courtesy of a lacklustre display from the big guns. KKR took game over the line in the 10th over powered by Subhman Gill’s 34ball 48 alongside the debutant Venkatesh Iyer(41 not-out) clobbering every Bangalore bowler out of the to settle the scores.
Prasidh Krishna initiated the landslide packing Virat Kohli home in the second over. Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers too followed their skipper soon after with the latter going for a duck courtesy off a gem from Andre Russell. In fact, the big Jamaican lead the charge for the KKR bowling with his 3/9 with Lockie Ferguson(2/24) giving him good support.
Devdutt Padikkal(22), the top scorer was one of only four player to get into double digit scores.
In reply, it was both a show from the openers Gill and Iyer setting up a crucial and moral boosting victory. Gill started steadily before launching his range hitting especially against the spinners. He was on set for a well deserved half-century but miscuing one of Yuzvendra Chahal finding Mohammed Siraj at long-off. However, it was enough to seal the victory with Iyer on his debut hitting the winning runs.
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Brief Scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 94/1 in 10 overs( Subhman Gill 48, Venkatesh Iyer 41*; Yuzvendra Chahal 1/23) beat Royal Challengers Banglore 92 all-out in 19 overs ( Devdutt Padikkal 22; Andre Russell 3/9, Lockie Ferguson 2/24) by 9 wickets.
