Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Indian Premier League 2020 Match 28: As it happened

Virat Kohli-led RCB take-on third placed KKR at Sharjah in battle of two in-form sides

Image credits: Twitter/@IPL

Hello and Welcome to the live coverage of match number 28 of IPL 2020 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders which is all set to begin shortly on Monday (October 12) from the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Royal Challengers Bangalore have beaten Kolkata Knight Riders by 82 runs.

Earlier, RCB won the toss and opted to bat first against KKR. RCB posted 194/2 against KKR thanks to AB de Villiers rapidfire 73*.

Both teams are coming on the back of crucial victories, albeit in very different fashion. While KKR have won their last two matches in extremely scrappy fashion, Virat Kohli-led RCB finally looked like their dominant self as they thrashed CSK by 37 runs in their last outing.

KKR have defended below par totals in their last two games and somehow managed to clinch victory from the jaws of defeat against CSK and KXIP respectively. So far, KKR have had to dig deep for each victory and have failed to justify their status as one of the strong contenders of the tournament.

But as fate would have it, they are at the third spot in the points table and have won four of their six games so far. They were handed a huge blow in the last game when their powerhouse all-rounder Andre Russell hobbled of the field with a knee injury and didn’t bowl a single ball. It remains to be seen whether he would be ready to take the field at this crucial juncture. In another majore development, KKR's wily spinner Sunil Narine was reported for chucking the ball and is also in danger of missing out.

Virat Kohli-led RCB are right behind KKR in the fourth position with the net run-rate being the deciding factor. Talisman Kohli’s return to form has perhaps been their biggest takeaway from their past few games

It all promises to be a high-scoring thriller at the small Sharjah Cricket stadium which has seen some huge scores up until now.

The match as it happened:

12 October 2020

23:21 IST

That's that from Sharjah. #RCB win by 82 runs.#Dream11IPL #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/wQV7xlQ9Yi

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

23:17 IST

Royal Challengers Bangalore have beaten Kolkata Knight Riders by 82 runs. The match was already done and dusted as soon as Andre Russell departed. Chris Morris bowls out Kamlesh Nagarkoti on the final ball of the 19th over to add insult to injury. Only 4 overs come from Isuru Udana's final over. Brilliant all-round performance today from RCB and they have completed a huge victory. KKR: 112/ 9 (20 Overs)

23:03 IST

The emotions and celebrations say it all!

Isuru Udana strikes. Dre Russ departs.#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/wC9hkL1GBs

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

22:58 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! Now Siraj picks up his first. Rahul Tripathi is dismissed for a scrappy 16 with Chris Morris completing a magnificient diving catch while running-in from long-on. KKR: 99/8 (17 Overs)

22:47 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! KKR want to go back to the hotel early. Pat Cummins is now dismissed by Morris. He wanted to go over long-on but hands an easy catch to Padikkal. KKR: 90/7 (15 Overs)

22:43 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! Andre Russell is gone. Is that the game? We think it is. Isuru Udana bowles a wide of off full ball and Russell hands a dolly catch at extra cover to Siraj. Brilliant comeback from Udana as he had been hit for two fours and a six in that over by Russell. KKR: 86/6 (14 Overs)

22:33 IST

He might be playing cricket, but he’s still picking Knights.  #PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/MqxMTbaqFo

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 12, 2020

22:32 IST

Back to back wickets in the bag for @RCBTweets.

Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan are back in the hut.#KKR 64/5 https://t.co/rfjd3LvjW6 #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/2eNzI5Ttv3

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

22:28 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! KKR can't stop losing wickets. Now Morgan is dismissed by Washington Sundar, who picks-up his second. Morgan tries to go inside out against Sundar but only manages an edge to short third-man. Sundar finishes a wonderful spell of 4-0-20-2. RCB Spinners have turned this around completely.  KKR: 69/5 (12 Overs)

22:24 IST

OUT!! HUGE WICKET!! Dinesh Karthik is bowled by Chahal. It was a wide leg-break and Karthik played for the turn. He mistimes it and plays it onto his on stumps. KKR: 64/4 (11 Overs)

22:18 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! Shubman Gill is run-out. Morgan hit the ball to cover-point where Isuru Udana is standing alert. Gill is guilty as he called for the single and pays the price with his wicket. Udana sent a brilliant throw to keeper De Villiers, who completes an acrobatic run-out. Skipper Dinesh Karthik is the new man in. KKR: 61/3 (10 Overs)

22:10 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! Nitish Rana is bowled by Washington Sundar. With the run-rate rising, Rana had no option but to try and go for a big hit against Sundar. He went for a slog sweep but completely miscues it and is sent back to the pavilion. RCB well on top. Brilliant from their spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal is also right on the money from the other end. KKR: 54/2 (9 Overs)

21:56 IST

Very good from RCB. Washington Sundar gives away just 3 runs from his opening over. He has been magnificient in the tournament so far. KKR also do well to pick-up 16 runs from Mohammad Siraj's second over but RCB are still ahead in the race. KKR: 43/1 (6 Overs)

21:50 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! Tom Banton is bowled by Navdeep Saini. It was too fast for Banton at 148kph. He was late into the good length ball and the ball takes his inside edge and disturbs the timber. KKR: 23/1 (4 Overs)

21:40 IST

Steady start for KKR. They are not trying the big shots right now and play out the opening two overs from Morris and Navdeep Saini. KKR: 12/0 (2 Overs)

21:30 IST

Tom Banton and Shubman Gill will open Kolkata Knight Riders' innings. Chris Morris to start the proceedings for Royal Challengers Bangalore. KKR: 0/0 (0 Overs)

21:25 IST

An incredible AB-Virat partnership helps us put up a formidable total on the board.

Over to our bowlers now.... #PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/b5de7LjrIe

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 12, 2020

21:22 IST

 of these have come in the last .  #PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/Z1nPAH5l77

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 12, 2020

21:22 IST

The AB-Virat partnership - 3000 runs and counting #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/DmjOlWs6hO

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

21:17 IST

RCB have posted a total of 194/2 against KKR. AB de Villers has perhaps done the trick for RCB here. He finishes at a majestic 73 from just 33 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes. Kohli just played second fiddle to him at a paltry 33 from 28 balls with a single four. Although Russell bowled a good final over, he was hit for 17 runs in that. RCB: 194/2 (20 Overs)

21:01 IST

Some CRAZY hitting here by @ABdeVilliers17.

A brilliant FIFTY off 23 deliveries.#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/IFvRli49RX

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

20:55 IST

AB de Villiers is on fire right now. He took some time initially to get going but now the train has left the station in some speed. He picks up 18 runs from the economical Kamlesh Nagarkoti's final over with two huge sixes and a four. The he continues the onslaught by hitting spearhead Cummins for two sixes and then a four. Picks-up 19 from the 17th over. 37 runs from the last two overs. RCB: 148/2 (17 Overs)

20:44 IST

Very good from KKR bowlers. After looking down and out in the early exchanges, they have made a fantastic comeback in the game. Varun Chakravarthy completes an economical spell of 4-0-25-0.  RCB: 111/2 (15 Overs)

20:40 IST

A beautiful delivery from Prasidh Krishna gets the wicket of Finch.

Live - https://t.co/rfjd3LvjW6 #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/mAtYymKUQ0

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

20:35 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! Aaron Finch is bowled by Prasidh Krishna. A similar dismissal just like Padikkal's. He backed away a bit too much for room but is bowled by a well directed full ball from Krishna. AB de Villiers is the new man in.  RCB: 99/2 (13 Overs)

20:30 IST

Some brilliant bowling from Nagarkoti here. He is deceiving the two illustrious batsmen by rolling his fingers on the ball and taking the pace off. His disguised slow balls are dowing the trick as he has given away just 9 runs from his first two overs. RCB: 90/1 (12 Overs)

20:26 IST

Time to remove the safety lock and go all guns blazing.  #PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #Dream11IPL #RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/YRe5QAfPgm

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 12, 2020

20:21 IST

At the half-way stage, RCB are looking solid with the bat and now it is upto Kohli and other to come up with the big hits. But, it must be said that the KKR bowlers are up to the task as Kamlesh Nagarkoti gives away just 6 runs in his first over. RCB: 78/1 (10 Overs)

20:21 IST

At the half-way stage, RCB are looking solid with the bat and now it is upto Kohli and other to come up with the big hits. But, it must be said that the KKR bowlers are up to the task as Kamlesh Nagarkoti gives away just 6 runs in his first over. RCB: 78/1 (10 Overs)

20:20 IST

Virat Kohli is the new man in for RCB!

20:10 IST

OUT!! WICKET!! Devdutt Padikkal is dismissed by Andre Russell. Padikkal made too much room for hismelf and his stumps are rattled by the fiery Russell. Padikkal, though, has done his job and he departs for 32 off 23 balls. RCB: 69/1 (8 Overs)

20:04 IST

A steady start here for the #RCB. At the end of the powerplay, the scoreboard reads 47/0

Live - https://t.co/rfjd3LvjW6 #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/8TeYgQoiOI

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

19:56 IST

Very good comeback from the KKR bowlers. Cummins shows his class as he gives away just 4 runs from the fifth over - bowling some brilliant cutters and taking the pace off the ball. In the next over, Andre Russell gave away just 2 runs in his opening five balls but on the last ball Kamlesh Nagarkoti drops a straight catch at short-fine leg and the ball goes for four. Russell had perfectly set-up Finch there. KKR: 47/0 (6 Overs)

19:48 IST

We can now see why Kohli opted to bat first. The is an absolute belter - where we are on our way to see a run-fest. Padikkal justifies the same as he hits two fours each off Cummins and Prasidh's second overs. Nothing in the wicket for the bowlers. RCB: 37/0 (4 Overs)

19:37 IST

Good start from RCB. Very good from Finch as he races away to 15 off 8 balls. He shimmies down the wicket and hits his compatriot Cummins for a four through mid-wicket in the first over. He follows it up with a huge six against Prasidh Krishna - the ball goes out of the stadium. RCB: 19/0 (2 Overs)

19:30 IST

Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal will open Royal Challengers Bangalore's innings. Pat Cummins to start the bowling attack for Kolkata Knight Riders. RCB:0/0 (0 Overs)

19:21 IST

A look at the Playing XI for #RCBvKKR #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/Lo2xATtaub

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

19:11 IST

#RCB wins the toss and they will bat first against #KKR in Match 28 of #Dream11IPL.#RCBvKKR pic.twitter.com/MKARrLBUxM

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 12, 2020

19:09 IST

Kolkata Knight Riders XI: S Gill, T Banton, N Rana, D Karthik (C), E Morgan, R Tripathi, A Russell, P Cummins, K Nagarkoti, P Krishna, V Chakravarthy

One change for KKR: Tom Banton comes in for Sunil Narine

19:06 IST

Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: D Padikkal, A Finch, V Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, W Sundar, S Dube, I Udana, C Morris, M Siraj, N Saini, Y Chahal

One change for RCB: Mohammad Siraj comes in for Gurkeerat Mann

19:04 IST

Royal Challengers Bangalore have won the toss and will bat bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders.