IPL 2020: KL Rahul’s century helps KXIP beat RCB by 97 runs

Against a confident Kings Eleven Punjab attack, RCB’s batting looked clueless as they got bowled out for 109 runs in the second innings and thereby handed KXIP their first win in IPL 2020.

In pursuit of a mammoth 206, RCB made an awful start to the innings. Pacers, Mohammed Shami and Sheldon Cottrell spewed venom against RCB batting in the powerplay overs. The West Indies seamer got rid of Padikkal early. Sending Josh Phillippe didn’t work out as he got out in the second over. Virat Kohli, who had a bad day on the field, didn’t last too long either, as RCB were reeling at 4 for 3 inside 3 overs.

Aaron Finch and AB De Villiers did stay at the crease for some period of time. The duo stitched 49-run partnership between them before Finch got out to a googly from Bishnoi. RCB eventually lost the game by 97 runs.

KL Rahul century powered Kings Eleven Punjab to 206 in the first innings

KL Rahul led from the front to make a blistering comeback for Kings Eleven Punjab in IPL 2020. The skipper made a mockery of RCB’s lacklustre bowling line-up as he notched the highest ever score by an Indian in IPL history. The skipper hit 14 fours and 7 sixes en route to an unbeaten 132 off 69 balls. His knock powered his side to a mammoth 206-run total in the first innings.

KXIP openers, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal made a strong start to the innings, having gone past the 50-run mark in just 6 overs. Falling short of option, Virat Kohli, once again, turned to Yuzvendra Chahal and the latter obliged immediately. The leggie got ride of Mayank with a googly in his first over. Shivam Dube later accounted for the wickets of Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell and helped RCB pull the game back a bit.

However, the unstoppable KL Rahul unleashed himself in the final few overs to take the side where they wanted to. He smacked Dale Steyn for 3 sixes and 2 fours in the nineteenth over, followed by two sixes and two fours in the 20th over.

Also read: IPL 2020 KXIP vs RCB: Kings XI Punjab skipper KL Rahul becomes the first centurion of IPL 2020