Twitter Reactions: RCB pip KKR in a low-scoring thriller to notch up their first win of IPL 2022

Low-scoring thrillers are seriously amazing in T20 cricket. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) played out one such game at the DY Patil Stadium on March 30 (Wednesday). KKR bowlers should be credited for making a match out of the low score, but RCB kept their nerves well in the end with Harshal Patel and Dinesh Karthik churning out crucial boundaries in the end.

Earlier, none of the KKR batters could convert a decent start. While RCB bowled decently, the opposition batters committed harakiri as well by playing poor shots to leave the team in a poor situation. KKR’s five out of top six batters reached double figures but none could cross the 14-run mark. Wanindu Hasaranga broke the back of their batting picking up three wickets in his first spell.

The leg-spinner sent back Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine, and Sheldon Jackson to leave KKR reeling at 67/6 in the 9th over. It soon became 83/7 with even Sam Billings walking back to the hut. Andre Russell played a fine cameo then, putting up an exhibition of his power-hitting skills. But even he was snaffled by Harshal Patel who bowled superbly not giving any chance for the Caribbean batter to smack him.

Russell scored 25 runs off 18 deliveries with one four and three sixes. KKR somehow crossed the 100-run mark but the 27-run stand between Umesh Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy for the 10th wicket provided some respectability to the score as they got bundled out on 128 in the 19th over. Hasaranga returning with magical figures of 4/20, while Akash Deep also did well to scalp three wickets.

KKR bowlers try hard but RCB get over the line

In response, RCB were expected to easily chase down the target. But that wasn’t the case. KKR’s new-ball bowlers spit venom with Tim Southee and Umesh Yadav sending back the top three – Anuj Rawat, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli. RCB were struggling at 17/3 in the third over and suddenly thoughts of 49 all-out came into everyone’s mind, which also came against KKR, and the score is still the lowest in the history of IPL.

But David Willey and Sherfane Rutherford steadied things a bit. With no pressure of the required run-rate 45 runs in almost nine overs they made sure to rotate the strike, and when the dot balls piled up, one of them smacked a boundary to settle things down. However, in an attempt to up the ante after getting hold of the pitch, Willey got out to Narine.

Surprisingly, Shahbaz Ahmed was sent ahead of Dinesh Karthik at number six and the move worked wonders for RCB. The southpaw took his chances while Rutherford kept maneuvering the ball. The duo added 39 runs for the fifth wicket before Shahbaz lost his plot in an attempt to take on Chakaravarthy.

However, with 28 runs to win in four overs with five wickets in hand, it was supposed to be a cakewalk for RCB. Well, it wasn’t to be. Tim Southee bowled an exceptional 18th over to nip out Rutherford and Hasaranga in the same over. The equation came down to 17 runs off the last two overs, and Shreyas Iyer went for Venkatesh Iyer in the penultimate over.

The youngster did well off the first five balls to keep things tight but Harshal Patel churned out a crucial boundary to make it seven runs off the final over. Dinesh Karthik then finished things off with a brilliant six and a four in the last over of Russell to win the low-scoring thriller for RCB. KKR made a match out of just 129, but eventually RCB got over the line to notch up their first win of the season.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

This is why we love the @IPL ! What a finish it was always @RCBTweets game but they made it interesting with @KKRiders ! The #IPL come alive tonight #RCBvKKR

— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) March 30, 2022

Predicting without jinxing still a dream for many 😉 #RCBvKKR #IPL2022 https://t.co/DclX4fwdXg

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 30, 2022

His name is #SheldonJackson . You are magic Jackson! @ShelJackson27 #KKRvsRCB #KKRvRCB #

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) March 30, 2022

Brilliant catch from Sheldon Jackson. Inside edges are most difficult catches for wicket keepers! #KKRvsRCB

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 30, 2022

My god #Sheldon what a catch at this stage! #RCBvKKR

— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) March 30, 2022

🤭 #RCBvKKR #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/GZ5wo521ax

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 30, 2022

Kkr certainly LORBO at the moment. Very much in the game!

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 30, 2022

If RCB win my man of the match is Akash deep!

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 30, 2022

Harshal Patel keeps coming back. Apart from his variation, His self belief is something that makes him perform under pressure!

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 30, 2022

All three sri Lankan’s rocking IPL 2022 so far, congratulations guys,@BhanukaRajapak3 @DushmanthaDC05 @Wanindu49 great stuff boys, keep going and make all of us proud back home, @ninety9sl @KumarSanga2 @MahelaJay @Murali_800 all the best to you guys for the @IPL 2020

— Dhammika Prasad (@imDhammika) March 30, 2022

Brilliant bowling by @RCBTweets tonight🔥Not a big total to defend for @KKRiders I’d watch out for #TimSouthee as KKR bowls and King Kohli @imVkohli as @RCBTweets chase. #RCBvKKR #IPL2022

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 30, 2022

Trump card with inside info @DineshKarthik, don't underestimate his impact here 😄 #RCBvKKR #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/tsJduC6XrI

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 30, 2022

R C B 🔥🔥 our first win of the season. Dinesh Karthik scoring the winning runs against KKR a fitting ending to a game that seemed to have everything! #RCBvKKR

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 30, 2022