Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 28th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Indian Premier League 2020 Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah Date & Time: Oct 12, 06:00 PM LOCAL

RCB smashed KKR by 82 runs © BCCI

AB, bowlers school KKR

This is nearly as forgettable a game for KKR as the famous 49 allout was for RCB. KKR were never in chase. The last time they could afford to feel good about their game was at the 14 over mark in the first innings. Since then it's been all about AB and the RCB bowlersas KKR just couldn't take a step in the right direction. CSK have been chided all season for the absence of intent but tonight it was KKR's turn to suffer the same fate. This is quite a deflating result for KKR, who already seem to have lost Narine to an illegal bowling action warning.

They put him on the bench, though they expressed surprise at the decision take. His future this season remains unclear and Tom Banton didn't do himself any favours by coming out as a bundle of nerves and failing to get going. Whether Chris Green is the way to go for KKR is a decision for them to make, but first a bit of introspection after a humbling night. Mind you, they're still fourth so not everything is doom and gloom at the moment. As far as RCB are concerned, they played like an absolute top side today. Kohli spoke of a perfect game in his last win but today was so much more. He'd be chuffed surely! That's all from me for tonight. Ciao!

Two of RCB's heroes tonight...

Sundar dismissed Nitish Rana and Eoin Morgan ©Cricbuzz

Chahal bowled 10 dots balls in his exceptional spell ©Cricbuzz

How are they not clearing Sharjah boundaries?

Just not KKR's day today. Pat Cummins mistimes a big hit and is caught by Devdutt at long-off. RCB are now just three wickets away from a HUGE victory here - much needed boost for their NNR.

Oh Russell!

He gave hopes, didn't he? He smashed Six, Four, Dot, Four off Udana's first four balls and made it look like he could do it all by himself. But that was merely false hope as he perishes going for another big one. Siraj takes a catch, Kohli is ecstatic and RCB have a big NRR boost in their sights.

So, KKR are five down and need 124 off 42 balls. Even Dre Russ can't work his magic, can he?

Five down!

RCB are set for an NRR boost and we're in for an early finish. Because Morgan has perished now. Incredible bowling smarts on display from Washington there. He's been such a positive for RCB in this season. Morgan made room by going outside the leg stump to play over the off-side. Washington saw that early and fired a quicker one a touch short. Morgan went through with his pre-meditated shot and ended up top-edging it. It went straight to Udana at short third man. KKR 64/5

Look away KKR fans...

... for this is not pretty! Dinesh Karthik has been absolutely done in by the slowness of the pitch. He went after a wide leg-break from Chahal that was moving further away from him and ended up playing it onto his stumps. Poor from the skipper. RCB now have a firm grip on the proceedings.

Shubman Gill goes now!

KKR are crumbling here. Morgan hits the ball towards Udana at cover and the two batsmen dash off for a run that was perhaps not there. The Sri Lanka fired a low flat throw to AB who caught Shubman well short of his crease. Over to DK then.

RCB pacers could yet cramp Morgan?

@RCBTweets

rivalry has always been iconic. Starting from the very first match itself with @Bazmccullum 158* to @RCBTweets 49/10. @Russell12A muscle hitting to @lynny50 iconic catch. Memorable moments always! @PrakashG_CB

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Prelude - Which Sharjah will welcome RCB and KKR today?

Howdy folks! Now usually previews are all about the teams, and what they've done and what they've not. What they've got and what they've not. What they can and what they won't. But hey, tonight's game is at Sharjah, which is starting to throw teams off the grid a little.

Five games have been played at the famous venue and the first-innings scores in the first four of them were - 216/7, 223/2, 228/4 and 208/5. And in each of these four games (including second innings scores), only once was the 200-run mark not reached. In fact, Rajasthan Royals even chased down KXIP's 223/2. Swiftly, the stadium built a reputation - the antidote to the tactical and broad grounds of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

But wait, there's a twist. In the last game played there, just three days ago, the conditions threw a tantrum. Delhi Capitals, asked to bat first, needed 62 off the last 30 balls to huff and puff to 184/8. Rajasthan had chased about 50 more than that previously, but didn't see what was coming to hit them. They were dismantled for a meagre 138 - raising different kinds of questions.

The first question that Sharjah put forth was this - Is there really a way out for bowlers? And then did a complete U-turn, by dishing out a bowler-friendly surface, and a Fantasty cricket reality check.

Coming to the teams...

Chris Morris has given RCB a sort of balance that they've yearned for years. He admitted to being as nervous as he was before his Test debut, but was rather influential with the ball (3 for 19 in 4 overs) in his debut game for RCB. There really is no room for changes here, even if Aaron Finch's form can be considered a tad worrisome. RCB are currently fourth, Virat Kohli is back in form, so there should be a long rope waiting for Australia's limited-overs captain.

KKR couldn't have arrived at Sharjah with a worse predicament. The league threw them a curveball by reporting Sunil Narine for a suspect action and placing him on a warning list - one more strike and he can't bowl in the tournament again. And Andre Russell was struggling with an injury in the previous game. Sharjah conditions could be changing colours but the boundaries are still short - they've always been short - so KKR will do everything in their power to get the big West Indian fit. The official twitter handle has already put out a tease, by talking about Russell's numbers against RCB and what he could do tonight. We'll have to wait and see for that.

If the KKR management decides not to risk Narine, then there's a chance Chris Green could be in. He'd be a handy weapon to have on your side in the PP overs. If Russell doesn't pull through, KKR will have to bring Tom Banton in and will have to sacrifice an Indian batsman - likely to be Rahul Tripathi despite his form - in order to play an extra bowlers. Lot's of decisions to be taken for DK and Co. At least they've come in at the back of two very solid wins - both snatched from clear losing positions. The mood and resolve in that dressing room should be upbeat.