In a thrilling IPL showdown, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a heart-wrenching one-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) despite valiant efforts from Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar. The match, held in Kolkata on Sunday, showcased a gripping battle between bat and ball.

Jacks blazed through the pitch, smashing a dynamic half-century, scoring 55 runs off just 32 balls with an impressive display of power hitting. Patidar, too, joined the onslaught, contributing a quickfire 52 runs from just 23 deliveries, including a flurry of boundaries and sixes. However, their heroic efforts fell short as RCB failed to chase down KKR’s imposing target of 223 runs.

Andre Russell plays on point 

Even with a sensational last-over blitz from Karn Sharma, who scored 20 runs off just 7 balls, RCB could only muster a total of 221 all out. KKR’s bowlers, led by Andre Russell with three crucial wickets, along with Sunil Narine and Harshit Rana, proved to be formidable adversaries for the visiting team.

Smallest margin of win for KKR in IPL:
1 run vs RCB at Eden Gardens in 2024
2 runs vs RCB at Sharjah in 2014
2 runs vs PBKS at Abu Dhabi in 2020

Phil Salt creates a mark with his batting 

In the first innings, KKR’s batsmen set the tone with a commanding performance. Opener Phil Salt provided an explosive start, smashing 48 runs off a mere 16 balls, while skipper Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with a composed half-century, scoring 50 runs off 36 deliveries. Contributions from Ramandeep Singh and Andre Russell propelled KKR’s total to a challenging 222/6.

Despite a commendable effort from RCB’s Cameron Green, who claimed two wickets conceding 35 runs, KKR managed to set a daunting target for their opponents. The match was marked by several key moments, including Salt’s aggressive start, Narine’s dismissal, and Iyer’s crucial fifty. However, it was RCB’s narrow miss in the chase that stole the spotlight, as they fell agonizingly short of KKR’s total, ultimately losing by a solitary run.

See Also: Virat Kohli reacts after dismissal, becomes victim of controversial umpiring, DRS

With this thrilling victory, KKR celebrated a hard-fought win, while RCB was left to rue their missed opportunity in a closely contested encounter.