5 moments that shaped the KKR vs RCB thriller in Kolkata

Phil Salt sprinkles his brilliance in the powerplay 

Salt hit three sixes and seven fours to score 48 off 14 in the powerplay. The innings was quite crucial as his opening partner. Sunil Narine, wasn’t being allowed to free his arms. Salt gave KKR the momentum that took them to 222. 

Shreyas Iyer’s middle-order solidity 

KKR have constructed their deep batting lineup full of hitters around Iyer, their sole anchor. Today, KKR kept losing wickets at regular intervals after the powerplay, and Iyer held one end up and scored 50 off 36, which gave Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh the platform to reach 222. 

Jacks and Patidar’s exuberant batting display 

The 102-run partnership between Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar came off just 48 deliveries. It ensured that despite losing Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis early, RCB’s required run-rate was always within an achievable range. 

Russell and Narine’s middle-order destruction 

Andre Russell dismissed both Jacks and Patidar in the 12th over, and Narine continued the carnage by picking up Cameron Green and Mahipal Lomror in the following over. The West Indians gobbled up RCB’s entire middle order, and their win% fell from 82 to 27 in the space of 12 deliveries. 

Starc takes KKR home by the skin of his teeth

RCB needed 21 runs in the last over, and Mitchell Starc conceded three sixes off full and fast deliveries to Karn Sharma. But he managed to hold on to a very low return catch from Karn. With three needed in one delivery, Lockie Ferguson ran himself out while completing the second run.