Hello and welcome to Sportstar's LIVE coverage of Match 10 of IPL 2021 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Result: RCB beats KKR by 38 runs | What a clinical performance by RCB and the Virat Kohli-led side remain unbeaten winning all three games. Chasing 205 runs to win, KKR was never in the chase and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Andre Russell did hit some shots but they came a tad late in the chase. Quality batting from Ab de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell and Kohli will be a happy skipper.
KKR 162/7 after 19 overs: Russell played five dot balls and then took a single off the last ball as Kolkata needs 43 runs in the final over.
KKR 161/7 after 18 overs: Kyle Jamieson strikes and he takes two despite going for 15 runs in the over. He cleans up Shakib with a yorker and then bounces back after being whacked for a maximum to dismiss Pat Cummins.
KKR 146/5 after 17 overs: Russell hits top gear as he smacks Chahal for 20 runs - Begins with a brilliant pull overt deep mid-wicket for a six and then three consecutive boundaries to inject hope in the run chase. Still, KKR needs 59 off 18 balls.
KKR 126/5 after 16 overs: Russell needs to fire now or it will be too late.. The required rate is now 19.04, more than double the current rate.
KKR 121/5 after 15 overs: This match is slipping away from Kolkata's grasp as they now required 84 from 30 deliveries and it all boils down to some magic from Russell. Can he do it remains to be seen.
KKR 115/5 after 14 overs: WICKET Harshal Patel strikes and he removes the Kolkata skipper. Morgan falls while trying to up the ante and Virat Kohli takes a simple catch to pack off the skipper. Andre Russell walks in with Kolkata in doldrums.
KKR 112/4 after 13 overs: Shakib breaks away from the shakles as he launches Maxwell into the stands over long-off and then Morgan smacks the Australian over the deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Bangalore, still on top.
KKR 98/4 after 12 overs: Harshal Patel into the attack and he starts well with just five singles and Kolkata needs some big hits to come back into the match.
KKR 93/4 after 11 overs: Morgan gets into the act as he hammers Maxwell - bowling for the first time this season - for a maximum over long-on and Kolkata needs many more of those to stay in the game. Shakib is struggling at the other end. Bangalore know a wicket here would tilt the match firmly in their favour.
KKR 83/4 after 10 overs: Kolkata needs 122 runs in 60 balls and skipper Morgan has to get a move on as he is batting on 11 with Shakib Al Hasan at the other end. Strange that Russell didn't walk out given the situation.
KKR 75/4 after 9 overs: WICKET - Chahal strikes again and this time he traps Dinesh Karthik, who was trapped dead plumb in front of the wickets. The wicketkeeper-batsman was trying to play against the turn, missed the ball and was hit right in front of middle. He doesn't review it. Kolkata in trouble.
KKR 73/3 after 8 overs: Captain Morgan and Dinesh Karthik have a job in their hands but the required rate is around 11 against the current rate of 9.06. A partnership here will keep Kolkata in the hunt, given the fact that there is a certain Andre Russell in the sheds.
KKR 67/3 after 7 overs: WICKET - Yuzvendra Chahal picks his first wicket of the season and the in-form Nitish Rana departs for a 11-ball 18. Goes for the slog sweep but hits it straight down the throat of Devdutt Padikkal at deep mid-wicket. Three down and Kolkata in deep trouble.
KKR 57/2 after 6 overs: WICKET - Tripathi bites the dust as Washington Sundar picks his man... Tripathi falls while trying to up the ante as he goes for a heave, only to get a top edge and Mohammed Siraj does an excellent job as the fast bowler keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a good catch. Two down KKR.
KKR 45/1 after 5 overs: Rahul Tripathi is looking assured in the middle as he pulls out a scoop to surprise Mohammed Siraj and then a drive through the mid-on for a boundary.
KKR 36/1 after 4 overs: A direct hit could have landed Rahul Tripathi in trouble but the fielder misses the target. Spin from both ends as Washington Sundar joins Chahal and Bangalore on the attack. Rana and Tripathi need to build a partnership.
KKR 29/1 after 3 overs: Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack and he starts well as he gives just two runs from his opening over.
KKR 27/1 after 2 overs: WICKET - Oh Dear! Dan Christian pulls off a stunning catch to end a brilliant cameo from Shubman Gill, who departs for 21 off just 9 deliveries. Gill was toying with the bowling as he smoked Jamieson for a boundary and then two huge sixes but an uppish shot towards mid-on saw a running Christian grab a stunner. Early setback for Kolkata.
KKR 7/0 after 1 over: Shubman Gill is away in style as he rides on top of the bounce and creams Siraj through the covers for a boundary. It will be a tall chase for KKR and it needs to cash in the Powerplay to set the tone for the chase.
RCB 204/4 after 20 overs: 21 runs from the last over and a masterclass from Ab de Villiers helps Bangalore post a daunting 204/4 in 20 overs. De Villiers remains unbeaten on 76 off just 34 ball and what an outstanding innings this has been. Maxwell, too, played his part with yet another half-century and RCB has the score to continue its unbeaten run in the tournament.
RCB 183/4 after 19 overs: A 27-ball fifty for Ab de Villiers and he smacks Harbhajan over the long-off as Kyle Jamieson joins the party with a six and a boundary as 18 runs come from the over.
RCB 165/4 after 18 overs: A six over long-on followed by a cheeky boundary through the point, Ab de Villiers is dictating terms in the middle. He is just a run away from his half-century as Russell bowls a full toss and AB just opens the face of his bat and guides it way wide of the keeper to the third-man boundary.
RCB 148/4 after 17 overs: Pat Cummins strikes and he removes the dangerous Maxwell for a 49-ball 78 and ends a fantastic knock. Maxwell was looking to go over the top but Cummins bounces him out as Harbhajan Singh settles under the skier.
RCB 145/3 after 16 overs: The partnership is worth 50 and de Villiers has now found his rhythm with two consecutive boundaries with a drive through the mid-wicket being the pick of the shot.
RCB 134/3 after 15 overs: Maxwell does it again! Brings out the switch-hit and smokes Chakravarthy flat over the cover for a maximum while AB de Villiers hammers the spinners for two brutal boundaries. 17 from the over.
RCB 117/3 after 14 overs: Maxwell is going great guns and his connection this afternoon has been superb. Cummins bowls wide, full outside off and Maxwell goes over the short third man for a boundary.
RCB 106/3 after 13 overs: Varun Chakravarthy is back into the attack and bowls a rather quiet over giving just five singles. Maxwell tries a reverse but fails to connect cleanly. Time for the strategic break and the next seven overs will be very crucial from Bangalore's point of view.
RCB 101/3 after 12 overs: The 100 is up for Bangalore but Devdutt Padikkal perished in the deep while trying to up the ante. Ab de Villiers is in the middle and he joins Glenn Maxwell. If this pair holds fort, we are in for some wonderful fireworks.
RCB 95/2 after 11 overs: Devdutt Padikkal gets into the act now and the southpaw reverse sweeps Harbhajan Singh to the deep point boundary and then Maxwell thumps the senior bowler to the extra cover boundary. Bangalore aim to accelerate.
RCB 84/2 after 10 overs: Maxwell is threading the gaps so beautifully and this time Prasidh offers width and Maxwell takes the backward point route to fetch a boundary. Padikkal, meanwhile, has played a brilliant supporting role.
RCB 78/2 after 9 overs: Fifty for Maxwell - There it is! Maxwell hits a brilliant 28-ball half-century and this is turning out to be his year as he continues to sizzle with the bat. Came in at a difficult time, but teed-off straightaway and has taken the attack to the opposition. Top knock.
RCB 67/2 after 8 overs: There isn't stopping Maxwell as Varun oversteps and gets the treatment as the batsman makes most of the free-hit by smacking him high over the mid-wicket for a maximum and then Maxwell works behind square to move into the 40s... RCB up and running.
RCB 53/2 after 7 overs: What a good recovery this has been from Bangalore with Maxwell batting on 30 off 19 balls and the partnership between the Australian and Devdutt Padikkal is 44 off 31 deliveries. Time for a strategic break and KKR will hope to make further inroads.
RCB 45/2 after 6 overs: Absolutely amazing from Maxwell as he disturbs Shakib's rhythm with a massive six over the deep and then brings out the reverse sweep to dispatch the left-arm spinner to the deep backward point boundary. Padikkal meanwhile, plays a lovely cut as 17 runs come from the over.
RCB 28/2 after 5 overs: There is no stopping Maxwell as chases a wide delivery from Cummins and still manages to get a boundary as Bangalore seem to be on the recovery path after losing skipper Kohli.
RCB 19/2 after 4 overs: Shakib Al Hasan is introduced early and KKR's ploy of starting with spin has worked as the dangerous Virat Kohli is back in the hut. Ideally, Varun should have continued after purchasing success straightaway, but captain Morgan has other plans. Maxwell gets into the act quickly as he unleashes a cut past backward point for a boundary.
RCB 12/2 after 3 overs: Glenn Maxwell is the new man in and Harbhajan Singh bowls another tight over as he gives just three from his second. Bangalore in need of a partnership.
RCB 9/2 after 2 overs: WICKET - Varun Chakravarthy strikes twice in his opening over and he gets the prized scalp of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patiday. Rahul Tripathi took an excellent running catch to pack off the Bangalore skipper and then the ball breached through the defence of Patidar and after ricocheting off the back pad hit the off pole.
RCB 6/0 after 1 over: Excellent first over from Harbhajan Singh and sans the no-ball, the veteran off-spinner has been spot on. He almost had Padikkal trapped but the ball was a touch high and was missing leg stump.
Bangalore openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal are all set to begin Bangalore's innings and it will be Harbhajan Singh who will start proceedings with the new ball.
Right then we are all set for Match 10 of IPL 2021 and on a dry pitch in Chennai, Virat Kohli has opted to bat first.
Toss: Royal Challengers Bangalore wins toss, opts to bat first
Playing XI
RCB Playing XI: Virat Kohli(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers(w), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
KKR Playing XI: Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan(c), Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik(w), Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Harbhajan Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
Pitch Report: Murali Kartik and Danny Morrison: One side of the square boundary is short at 60m, the other is fairly long at 71m. The pitch looks a lot drier and darker as well, this is the same pitch on which the second game (which was a high-scoring one was played), but don't think this is as good as a batting surface as that was. There could be some spin available as well - it's a bat-first wicket, scoreboard pressure could be a telling factor on this pitch -
We are an hour away from Toss and it will be hot and humid in Chennai with temperature around 34 degree celcius.... No chances of rain.
The first afternoon match of the season and we should have a cracker of a game in Chennai...
Squads:
RCB: Virat Kohli(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers(w), Washington Sundar, Daniel Christian, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Sachin Baby, Srikar Bharat, Navdeep Saini, Pavan Deshpande, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Daniel Sams
KKR: Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan(c), Shakib Al Hasan, Dinesh Karthik(w), Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Harbhajan Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Ben Cutting, Karun Nair, Pawan Negi, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Sheldon Jackson, Sandeep Warrier, Tim Seifert, Lockie Ferguson, Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Vaibhav Arora
There will be some captivating game-changers in the day-game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
Yet, while RCB has discovered the tenacity to edge out wins in close encounters to top the table, KKR, the other night in Chennai, suffered a brain fade against Mumbai Indians.
Chasing just 153 and 72 without loss at one stage, KKR inexplicably dug a hole with its big-strikers hitting only thin air at the death.
READ| Virat Kohli's leadership complements my approach: Kyle Jamieson
When the asking rate was a stroll, KKR’s trump card, powerhouse Andre Russell, could manage just nine of 15 balls.
That game was a nightmare for KKR after a rewarding first half with Russell employing his strong shoulders to generate lift and scalp five.
The dynamics of a day game - the match starts at 3.30 pm - are different and there could be some moisture early on and then some dew during the critical evening phase.
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