Kolkata Knight Riders Edge Out Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Thrilling IPL Clash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru had some hope after Karn Sharma's improbable attack on Mitchell Starc in the final over, but the Kolkata Knight Riders held their composure to win their IPL match here on Sunday by a thrilling one run off the final ball. The Knight Riders had set a challenging 223 runs as their objective, and the Royal Challengers needed 21 runs from left-arm pacer Starc's last over. With Karn and Mohammed Siraj at the bat, the outcome appeared certain, but the former almost completely changed the course of the match.

Leg-spinner Karn, who has no genuine batting experience, hit three sixes off Starc to cut the lead to three runs off of two balls. RCB finished at 222 all out in 20 overs, but Starc made amends by making a return catch to remove Karn (20, 7b, 3x6), and Lockie Ferguson was run out on the final ball.

But in a game full of flips and turns, KKR had the early advantage thanks to opener Phil Salt's aggressive 14-ball 48 and captain Shreyas Iyer's cool-headed 36-ball 50. KKR finished at 222 for six.

Nevertheless, the formidable character of their pursuit did not slow down the Royal Challengers. A solid foundation was set by Will Jacks (55, 32b; 4x4, 5x6) and Rajat Patidar (52; 23b, 3x4, 5x6), who combined for 102 runs for the third wicket off of just 48 balls.

However, after falling behind at 137 for 2, RCB quickly found themselves at 155 for 6. Andre Russell delivered a double punch, dismissing both Jacks and Russell in the space of three balls with his ingenious slower ball variety.

RCB was reduced to 155 for six by Sunil Narine (2/34) who also grabbed two wickets in his penultimate over, but Dinesh Karthik and Impact Sub Suyash Prabhudesai brilliantly combined to keep their hopes alive.

Russell came back to bowl in the last over and removed Karthik with a slower ball, making the equation more difficult for the RCB to overcome—21 runs from six balls. Karn almost pulled RCB over the finish line, but the Knights won the night in Eden Gardens as they masterfully executed the last seconds of a thrilling game.

With five victories in their last seven games, KKR has moved up to second place with 10 points, two points behind leaders Rajasthan Royals.

With just two points, RCB's campaign is all but finished as they are currently ranked tenth. This was their seventh loss in eight games and their sixth straight loss overall.

However, RCB had its moments. Jacks, for example, was at his ferocious best against Starc, hitting him for 22 runs in an over on his way to his second fifty in four matches on 29 balls.

Patidar, the finest bowler for KKR, was taken apart by Jacks' display as he scored fifty runs in only 21 balls, while RCB was able to keep their run rate over twelve.

Before dismissing Starc with contempt, Virat Kohli started out with a first-ball boundary and smashed Harshit Rana for a six in the opening over.

There was a shout of "Kohli, Kohli" around Eden as he retreated to thump it over fine-leg.

However, his inning was controversially ended when Rana made a return catch after Kohli was hit by what appeared to be a waist-high full throw.

Replays showed that the ball was dipping in its trajectory even though he was beyond of his crease when it struck, and the ruling was maintained.

Before leaving the field with his ire evident, Kohli engaged the on-field umpire in a heated conversation.

Varun Chakravathy removed Faf du Plessis for a seven-ball seven in the subsequent over.

Earlier, Salt, the world's No. 2 T20I hitter, was on fire, hammering three sixes and seven fours to give KKR an explosive start on a day when Narine (10, 15 balls) failed to get going. Iyer then took full advantage of the situation, hitting seven fours and one six.

The home team received some late momentum from Andre Russell (27 not out, 20b) and Ramandeep Singh (24 not out, 9b).

At the end of the power play, KKR was reduced to 75/3 by the under-fire RCB bowling team, as KKR lost four wickets in 26 balls during the vital middle period.

Rinku Singh (24) and Venkatesh Iyer (16) were unable to convert their beginnings as RCB continued to chip away at the KKR batting order.

However, Iyer remained composed to score his 20th IPL fifty, his maiden fifty of the current campaign, and KKR continued to advance.

After hitting 50 in 35 balls, he was out in the following ball.

Russell's 27 from 20 balls (4x4) was remarkably calm. At the Eden Gardens, it was Ramandeep Singh's cameo of 24 off nine balls, including two fours and two sixes, that helped them to their third consecutive 200+ score.

With his yorkers and wide yorkers, Siraj bowled well for his 1/40, while Cameron Green was the best bowler back for the RCB with a 2/35.

Although Yash Dayal too scored 2/56, he let up one too many runs.