Dubai: An 82-run fourth-wicket partnership between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers helped Royal Challengers Bangalore post a modest 145 for 6 in 20 overs here at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Tight spells by CSK bowlers and failure of lower-order deprived RCB from posting a big total. They lost four wickets for 11 runs in the death overs that chocked their flow of scoring.
Opting to bat first, RCB got off a breezy start from Devdutt Padikkal (22) and Aaron Finch (15). Both of them started with blitzkrieg shots but they couldn't capitalise on a fine start. Finch was the first batter to fall when he went for an expensive shot against a Sam Curran delivery but couldn't clear the boundary as Ruturaj Gaikwad caught him at the deep cover.
Padikkal too departed soon while trying to play a lofted shot over the deep midwicket. He played a beautiful shot but it was blocked by Faf du Plessis just a metre before the rope. du Plessis made a stunning save and passed it to Gaikwad who didn't make any mistake to grab it.
As the opening pair settled in the dugout with RCB 46 for 2 in 6.1 overs, Kohli and de Villiers took over the reins to rebuild the innings with singles and doubles. The situation seemed to have changed from the first delivery of the 17th over as Virat Kohli smashed Radeja over the long-on boundary for a six. It was Kohli's 200th six in the IPL. But this impression didn't last long.