IPL 14:2021, 10th Match Played at Chennai 
RCB VS KKR
 
Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) VS Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) 
RCB 204/4 in 20 Overs (Glen Maxwell 78, AB de Villiers 76*, Debdut Paddikai 25, Varun Chakrawarthy 2/39)
KKR 166/8 (Andre Russel 31, Eoin Morgan 29, Shakib Al Hasan 26, Rahul Tripathi 25, Shubman Gill 21, Kyle Jamieson 3/41, Harshal Patel 2/17, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/ 34) 

RCB won by 38 Runs 
Player of The Match: AB de Villiers 

Two big guns Glen Maxwell and AB de Villiers fired RCB to a run Mountain of 204/4. KKR did not have the quality or firepower excepting big Andre Russel to challenge that total. They could go as far as 166/8. RCB won big by 38. RCB won all three matches they played in IPL 2021. They look the best settled side so far in the tournament. 

Many matches have been over the past 13 IPL versions and many matches would be played in the future. But the batting performance of two tormentors of limited over cricket flamboyant Maxwell and 360 degrees man AB de Villiers today would remain as among the great ever seen. Coming to bat in the third over with RCB looking miserable at 9/2 Maxwell flew like a hawk in destroying the KKR attack with power hitting. His 49 ball 78 not only rescued RCB from crisis but also laid a solid platform for ABD producing a magical innings of unbeaten 76 in 34 deliveries. Both struck 9 fours and 3 sixes. De Villiers was so explosive that 56 runs were scored in the last three overs. Andre Russel who took 5 wickets in 2 overs in the previous match was clobbered for 38 in 2 overs. ABD himself took 36 of these. When a team destroys opponent bowling with such ferocity it leaves little for that team to counteract.  The wicket was not flat. Still the quality of Maxwell and ABD made it possible for scoring big. 204/4 in the context of IPL 2021 matches played so far was huge. 

KKR possesses some young talented batsmen and some good international player. But apart from Andre Russel and Eoin Morgan others are not that great to challenge such a tall target against a good bowling attack. KKR tried to keep pace with the target playing positively. Shubman Gill struck some deadly blows in his 9 balls 21 before falling to an astonishing catch by substitute Dan Christian of the bowling of Jamieson. Nitish Rana (18) and Rahul Tripathi (25) also tried to create momentum. But these were like ripples on the ocean. Morgan (29) lost his wicket when his partnership with Shakib at a stage made the scoring rate climbing. Harshal Paten with clever change of pace accounted for him. Shakib (26) rotated the strikes and scored a six and a four. He is not a power hitter. His ideal position is number three where can keep the score board moving. Perhaps this was a day when X-Factor Andre Russel could be risked at number four. If that gable worked Morgan, Karthik and others could crack at the target. When Russel joined Shakib it was already late. Still Russel and Shakib put on 41 runs in quick time. But 205 remained sky high. KKR could go as far as 166/8. In such situation also Harsal Patel in 4 overs gave away only 17 runs and took 2 wickets.

KKR lost by 38 runs. Winning 3 matches on the trot RCB consolidated its place on the top of the table. KKR won one in three. The match was won and lost through the magical innings that AB de Villiers produced. When he is in mood it is impossible to bowl to him by any bowler on any wicket. Wonder why he decided to leave international cricket. He still possesses to much to give to South Africa. This season addition of Maxwell with Kohli and ABD is also a huge bonus for RCB. The momentum already created would take RCB to business session. Whether or not they will have quality bowling attack to reach the final for acrack at the trophy is to be seen. 

BDST: 2056 HRS, APR 18, 2021
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