Big-hitting Queenslander plays match-winning hand after India captain's classy unbeaten 68
Match Report:
ScorecardLynn, KKR trump Kohli's Bangalore
The result: Royal Challengers Bangalore 4-175 (Kohli 68no, Russell 3-31) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 4-176 (Lynn 62no, M Ashwin 2-36) by six wickets with five balls remaining.
The match in a tweet: Lynn keeps a cool head and guides KKR home to victory, toppling an AB de Villiers-less RCB despite Kohli’s brilliance with bat and in the field #RCBvKKR
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 29, 2018
Lynn finds form: It was a vastly different innings to those we're used to from Chris Lynn, but no less effective, as the Aussie master blaster played the anchor role in Kolkata's chase from first ball to last. While Sunil Narine (27), Robin Uthappa (36) and Dinesh Karthik (23) opted for the aerial route, Lynn played a responsible knock, seven boundaries and a lone six in his 52-ball knock of 62 representing a more demure version of what we've become accustomed to in the Big Bash. Kolkata lost vital wickets in the middle order than allowed the home side back into the game, but Lynn’s constant presence was the sole difference, and he was a worthy winner of player of the match.
King Kohli continues on: Issues arose for RCB before a ball had been bowled in Bengaluru, most notably AB de Villiers being ruled out of the match with a viral fever. That left Kohli to shoulder the load in the middle order, and he did it with aplomb. Kohli smashed 68no from just 44 balls, a knock that included five fours and three sixes as Quinton de Kock (29) and Brendon McCullum (38) set the platform for the RCB skipper to launch from. His side eventually posted 4-175, ultimately not enough against a KKR side nestled in the top four on the IPL table.
The next stop: Kohli’s side will play Mumbai Indians on Wednesday, the winner of that match to be within a game of the top four while Kolkata host MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings on Friday to try and further solidify a playoff berth.
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