Indian Premier League 2020 Match 31, RCB vs KXIP: As it happened

Image Credits: Twitter/@lionsdenkxip

Skipper KL Rahul and swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle smashed a half-century each to help Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) register their second win of the ongoing 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with an eight-wicket victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a decent target of 172 runs to win, skipper KL Rahul not only stitched a half-century but also shared crucial stands if 78 runs and 93 runs with his opening partner Mayank Agarwal (45) and Chris Gayle, respectively to help his side chase down the target on the last ball and seal a thrilling win over the RCB.

Rahul ended his innings unbeaten at 41-ball 61, which was decorated with one four and five maximums. Meanwhile, Gayle--who was playing his first match of the season after recovering from food poisoning--finished his innings with 45-ball 53 runs.

Opting to bat first, skipper Virat Kohli earlier led from the front as he scored 39-ball 48 besides stitching a crucial 41-run stand with Shivam Dube (19-ball 23 for the fourth wicket.Chris Morris (25) and Isuru Udana (10) added 35 runs for the seventh wicket which included 24 runs off the last over from Mohammed Shami to help RCB post 171 for six in their stipulated 20 overs.

Here are the highlights:

15 October 2020

22:44 IST

FIFTY!! After skipper KL Rahul, Chris Gayle has also brought up his maiden fifty of IPL 2020 off 36 balls. He reached the mark with a single by punching the last ball of the 17th over from Washington Sundar to long-off. KXIP now need 11 runs from 18 balls. KXIP 161/1 (17 overs)

22:39 IST

KXIP have added 23 runs off the last two overs. Chris Gayle (36), who is playing his first match of the season, picked four runs on the second ball of the 16th over from Mohammed Siraj before launching the very next ball over extra cover for a maximum. Punjab now need 26 runs from 24 balls. KXIP 146/1 (16 overs)

22:29 IST

FIFTY!! Skipper KL Rahul has brought up a half-century off 37 deliveries. He reached the mark with a single by pushing the fifth ball of the 14th over from Chris Morris into the leg side.KXIP 123/1 (14 overs)

22:21 IST

Skipper KL Rahul (46), who is approaching a half-century mark, smashed the fifth ball of the 12th over from Mohammed Siraj over the roof at midwicket for a six before hitting the very next ball more towards wide long-on than midwicket for another maximum. KXIP have crossed the 100-run mark. KXIP 103/1 (12 overs)

22:04 IST

Just six runs of the last two overs. Skipper KL Rahul (31) continues to stand strong at the crease, while Chris Gayle (2) has joined him at the crease for his first match of the season. At the halway mark, KXIP have reached the score of 84/1 (10 overs)

22:02 IST

WICKET!! KXIP opener Mayank Agarwal (45) fell short of a half-century after being clean bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal on the last delivery of the eighth over. The Punjab franchise now needs 94 runs from 72 balls. KXIP 78/1 (8 overs)

21:49 IST

25 runs off the last two overs for KXIP. KL Rahul (25) played a casual swipe over midwicket on the first ball of the fifth over from Navdeep Saini for a six. Mayank Agarwal (30) lofted the last delivery of the same over towards long off for four runs before hammering the fifth ball of the sixth over from Isuru Udana over wide long-on for a maximum. KXIP now have also crossed the 50-un mark. KXIP 56/0 (6 overs)

21:40 IST

Expensive last two overs from RCB as they conceded 28 runs to KXIP. Skipper Rahul (15) lifted the fifth ball of the third over from Chris Morris to deep square leg's right for six runs. Agarwal (17), meanwhile, pushed the third ball of the fourth over from Yuzvendra Chahal to long-off's right to collect six runs before smashing the RCB bowler for back-to-back boundaries. KXIP 33/0 (4 overs)

21:33 IST

Skipper KL Rahul and opener Mayank Agarwal have made a slow start in their side's chase of 172 runs. Rahul got off the mark with a single by slashing the third ball of the first over from Morris down to third man before he smashed Navdeep Saini for a four in the next over. KXIP 5/0 (2 overs)

21:23 IST

Skipper KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have walked down the crease to begin KXIP chase. Chris Morris to open the attack for RCB. 

21:09 IST

INNINGS BREAK!

21:07 IST

Chris Morris (25) caressed the fourth ball of the 19th over from Chris Jordan over the point boundary for a six before he hammered Mohammed Shami for four runs and back-to-back sixes in the next over to help RCB set a decent target of 172 runs for KXIP. RCB 171/6 (20 overs)

20:59 IST

WICKET!! Virat Kohli fell short of a half-century after being caught by his KXIP counterpart KL Rahul behind the wicket on the fifth ball of the 18th over from Shami. RCB 137/6 (18 overs)

20:50 IST

WICKET!! AB de Villiers, who came to bat at No.6 departed cheaply for two runs after being caught by Deepak Hooda at extra cover on the third delivery of the 18th over from Mohammed Shami.RCB 134/5 (17.3 overs)

20:48 IST

WICKET!! Shivam Dube departs for 19-ball 23 after being caught by KL Rahul behind the stumps on the last delivery of the 16th over from Chris Jordan. RCB 127/4 (16 overs)

20:30 IST

Good last two overs for RCB as they added 25 runs in it. Shivam Dube (21) pulled the second ball of the 15th over from Ravi Bishnoi over long-on for a maximum before hitting the very next ball over deep midwicket for another six. Skipper Virat Kohli (40), on the other hand, is approachig a half-century mark. RCB 122/3 (15 overs)

20:27 IST

Glenn Maxwell gave away six runs to RCB before Ravi Bishnoi bowled a tight 13th over, conceding just three singles to RCB. Skipper Kohli (33) continue to stand strong at the crease, while Shivam Dube (6) has joined him at the other end.The Bangalore franchise is also approaching a 100-run mark. RCB 97/3 (13 overs) 

20:19 IST

WICKET!! Washington Sundar (13) looked for the slog sweep on the third ball of the 11th over from M Ashwin, but ended up handing a simple catch to Chris Jordan at long-on.RCB 88/3 (11 overs)

20:10 IST

12 runs off the last two overs for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Skipper Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar ae currently batting at the crease at their respective scores of 23 and seven and looking to stitch a crucial partnership after losing both their openers. RCB 75/2 (9 overs)

20:02 IST

WICKET!! RCB have now lost both of their openers. Murugan Ashwin was introduced into the attack after Powerplay and he delivered in his very first over by bowling out Aaron Finch for 20 on the third ball of the seventh over. RCB 63/2 (7 overs)

19:48 IST

WICKET!! Arshdeep Singh gives breakthrough to KXIP. Devdutt Padikkal falls for 12-ball 18 after being caught by Nicholas Pooran at cover on the first delivery of the fifth over. RCB 38/1 (4.1 overs)

19:37 IST

Aaron Finch (12) and Devdutt Padikkal (2) are off to decent start for RCB as the duo has added 18 runs off the first two overs. Finch gets off the mark by clipping the very first ball through vacant midwicket for one run before swiping the sixth ball from Maxwell over the long leg boundary for a maximum. Padikkal, meanwhile, flicked the fourth ball of the first over to square leg's right to open his account with one run. RCB 18/0 (2 overs)

19:31 IST

Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal have walked down the crease to begin RCB's innings. Glenn Maxwell to open the proceedings for KXIP. 

19:20 IST

West Indies' Chris Gayle is all set to play his first match for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2020 after recovering from food poisoning. The 'Universe Boss' has been roped in place of Mujeeb Ur Rahman in KXIP's Playing XI against RCB.

No pressure - Universe Boss @henrygayle #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/3WLNjcoW72

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 15, 2020

19:15 IST

As far squads are concerned, RCB are going into the clash with an unchanged Playing XI. KXIP, on the other hand, have made three changes in their Playing XI. Chris Gayle, M Ashwin and Deepak Hooda have come in, while Mandeep Singh (injury), Prabhsimran Singh and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are out of the match.

19:09 IST

LINEUPS:

Kings XI Punjab Playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, KL Rahul (capt and wk), Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, M Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing XI: Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (capt), AB de Villiers (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal

19:06 IST

RCB win the toss, opt to bat first against KXIP!

18:55 IST

Meanwhile, RCB swashbuckling batsman AB de Villiers is gearing up for tie against KXIP.

AB de Villiers gearing up for the clash against #KXIP.#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/4fA5CIuznP

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 15, 2020

18:54 IST

The toss for the second tie between RCB and KXIP in IPL 2020 will take place shortly.