Andre Russell and Nitish Rana were determined to spoil Royal Challengers Bangalore's party, when they almost gunned down the target of 213, with Kolkata Knight Riders at the end falling short by 10 runs.
It was those extra 20-25 runs scored by Moeen Ali that made the difference, apart from Virat Kohli's fifth IPL hundred. The England all-rounder scored a 28-ball 66, which included five boundaries and six sixes.
In its chase, KKR was off to a jittery start and in 11.5 overs, it had lost four wickets at the score of 79. But the opposition can't breathe easy when a batsman of Russell's stature had to walk out to bat.
Highlights: KKR vs RCB
All of sudden things started looking bright for KKR once Russell joined Rana at the crease and both started smoking the bowlers all over the park — especially Yuzvendra Chahal.
Dale Steyn making an IPL comeback after nine years had a decent outing with two scalps but not before giving away crucial 18 runs in his last over. It was Rana who first got to his fifty and then Russell joined him by slamming IPL's second fastest fifty off 21 balls.
Russell and Rana put up a 119-run partnership off 48 balls — taking KKR closer to the finish line with 24 needed off the last over. Kohli threw the ball to Moeen and he didn't disappoint as RCB managed to run Russell out in the fifth ball.
Rana remained unbeaten on 85 from 46 balls who still managed to hit a six off the last ball and KKR losing the match by 10 runs. Russell's 25-ball 65 was studded with nine sixes and two boundaries.
Kohli credited Moeen and Marcus Stoinis for holding their nerves when Russell and Rana were running away with the match.
"There is no point in panicking in these types of situations, you got to leave it to the bowlers to decide what he wants to do. Few good decisions by Stoinis and then Moeen in the end. I think the way Stoinis bowled those two-three dot balls, it was very crucial. They both showed composure and that's what you expect from your teams mates," Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
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