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.
de Villiers, in particular, was aggressive as he hit four fours. But his promising knock was curtailed by Faf du Plessis as he caught him off Deepak Chahar's bowling in the third delivery of the 18th over.
After AB de Villiers' departure, it was all but over for RCB as they lacked a whirlwind innings in the death overs. Moeen Ali, who could have been RCB's trump card today, was dismissed for one run by Curran in the first ball of 19th over. Curran struck again in that over by plucking the coveted scalp of Kohli. Faf du Plessis was again the catcher. However, before his removal, Kohli completed his third fifty in the IPL 2020.
Deepak Chahar soon completed his brace dismissing Chris Morris for 2 as he castled the right-hander for 2.
Among the CSK bowlers, Curran was most successful as he scalped three wickets for 19 runs in three overs.
CSK need 146 in 20 overs to win the match.
