TATA IPL 2024: KKR Edges RCB by 1 Run in Thrilling Clash, Jacks-Patidar Shine

Andre Russell and Sunil Narine combined to secure five wickets as Kolkata Knight Riders edged out Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a thrilling contest by a mere one run at the Eden Gardens. Captain Shreyas Iyer notched a brisk fifty off 36 balls, marking his first half-century in the IPL since May 2022. Phil Salt and Ramandeep Singh contributed with quickfire cameos, propelling KKR to a formidable total of 222/6. In response, Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar forged a crucial 102-run partnership for the third wicket, keeping RCB in contention with their respective fifties.

Russell and Narine's pivotal strikes left RCB in a precarious position, tumbling from 137/2 to 155/6. Despite a late onslaught from Karn Sharma, who blasted three sixes in the final over, RCB fell agonizingly short of the target, eventually being dismissed for 220 runs and succumbing to their seventh defeat of the tournament. With this victory, KKR surged to second place in the points table.

With 21 runs needed off the final over, Karn sliced Starc over backward point for six and survived a caught-behind appeal on the very next ball. Karn stayed deep in the crease and smacked Starc for sixes over extra cover and backward point. But Starc had the last laugh as he held on to a sharp caught-and-bowled dismissal on his follow-through to send back Karn for 20 off seven balls. With three runs needed off the last ball, Lockie Ferguson was run out going for the second run, as Salt disturbed the bails air-borne, to give KKR a narrow win, with RCB enduring a heartbreak.

Chasing 223, Virat Kohli was off the blocks quickly by hitting two sixes and a four. But Kohli lobbed a slower high full-toss from Harshit Rana back to the bowler, and the decision was sent to third umpire Michael Gough. The review system showed that the ball was dipping on Kohli, who was batting out of his crease, via a procedure where they match the height of a batter up to his waist, with the height of the ball against it, leaving Kohli livid as he made his displeasure known to umpires before walking off for 18.

After Faf du Plessis fell cheaply to Varun Chakaravarthy, as Venkatesh Iyer held on to a low catch at mid-on, Jacks and Patidar joined forces to get RCB back on track. Jacks was strong in attacking on the front foot, especially in hitting three sixes and a four off Mitchell Starc as 22 runs came off the last Power-play over. KKR staged a comeback when Russell took out Jacks and Patidar with slower balls in a span of four balls, followed by Narine dismissing Cameron Green and Mahipal Lomror cheaply. Impact Player Suyash Prabhudessai hit three boundaries before holing out to long-off on a slower delivery from Harshit, as KKR eked out some tidy overs.

Karthik, RCB's main prospect for leading the chase, skillfully guided the ball past the third man and found the gap at backward point to secure two boundaries. He then unleashed a powerful shot, sending Russell for a six and a four. However, the pacer quickly regained control after Karthik attempted to swivel over fine leg, resulting in a top-edge catch by the keeper. Despite Karn's attempt to orchestrate a miraculous turnaround for RCB, KKR maintained their composure to clinch victory by defending 21 runs in the final over.