IPL 2020 RCB vs KXIP highlights: KXIP beats RCB in a last ball thriller

In match 31 of Indian Premier League 2020 (IPL 2020), KL Rahul played a captain's knock and Chris Gayle fired in his first game since January as Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) finally ended its five-match losing streak with an eight-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at Sharjah cricket ground on Thursday.

Chasing 172 in a must-win game, the in-form opening pair of Rahul (61 not off 49) and Mayank Agarwal (45 off 25) got off to a flying start before Gayle (53 off 45) joined his skipper in the middle to get KXIP close to the finishing line.

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Needing seven off the final two overs with nine wickets in hand, KXIP somehow managed to take the game to the last ball with Nicholas Pooran finally hitting the winning six.

Both Rahul and Gayle smashed five sixes each, rendering the opposition attack helpless.

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Batting first, skipper Virat Kohli top-scored with 48 off 39 balls in his 200th game for RCB before Chris Morris' 25 off 8 in the death overs took the team to 171 for six.

It was a rare all-round effort from KXIP who had failed to close out games earlier in the competition.

Mohammad Shami (2/45) conceded 24 runs in the final over that spoiled his figures after he got rid of Kohli and AB de Villiers but overall it was a much improved bowling effort by KXIP especially in the death overs.

RCB vs KXIP: Gayle completes 4500 IPL runs

Leg spinner M Ashwin struck twice and pacer Chris Jordan took his first wicket of the tournament.

The run chase was supposed to be straightforward after Agarwal took the opposition to the cleaners in the powerplay before Rahul took over. As usual, the 41-year-old Gayle, batting at three, took his time early on before going ballistic.

Earlier, KXIP conceded only 25 runs from over 16-19 before Morris and Isuru Udana hammered Shami for three sixes.

Rahul experimented by opening the bowling with Glenn Maxwell (0/28 in 4 overs). He was slog swept by his Australian teammate and close friend Aaron Finch on the final ball.

KXIP innings' key highlights

• Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 56 runs, 0 wicket)
• Kings XI Punjab: 50 runs in 5.5 overs (35 balls), Extras 1
• 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 35 balls (KL Rahul 25, Agarwal 29, Extra 1)
• Kings XI Punjab: 100 runs in 11.6 overs (72 balls), Extras 6
• Over 13.2: Review by Kings XI Punjab (Batting), Umpire - KN Ananthapadmanabhan, Batsman - Gayle (Upheld)
• KL Rahul: 50 off 37 balls (1 x 4, 4 x 6)
• 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 43 balls (KL Rahul 23, Gayle 28, Ex 2)
• Strategic Timeout: Kings XI Punjab - 146/1 in 16.0 overs (KL Rahul 58, Gayle 36)
• Kings XI Punjab: 150 runs in 16.1 overs (97 balls), Extras 7
• Chris Gayle: 50 off 36 balls (1 x 4, 5 x 6)

RCB inning's key highlights

• Powerplay 1: Overs 0.1 - 6.0 (Mandatory - 57 runs, 1 wicket)
• Royal Challengers Bangalore: 50 runs in 5.2 overs (32 balls), Extras 5
• Timeout: Royal Challengers Bangalore - 75/2 in 9.0 overs (Virat Kohli 23, Washington Sundar 7)
• Royal Challengers Bangalore: 100 runs in 13.2 overs (80 balls), Extras 8
• Royal Challengers Bangalore: 150 runs in 19.1 overs (115 balls), Extras 12

RCB vs KXIP playing 11: Royal Challengers Bangalore has made no changes in its playing 11 while Kings XI Punjab has made three changes bringing in Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda and Murugan Ashwin for Mujeeb ur Rahman, Mandeep Singh and Prabhsimran Singh. 

KXIP playing 11:  Chris Gayle, KL Rahul(w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh.

RCB playing 11:  Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers(w), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

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