Narine shines but Kohli, Salt carry RCB past KKR in IPL opener

KOLKATA, India (CMC):

SUNIL NARINE made useful contributions with bat and ball, but it was not enough as Phil Salt and Virat Kohli smashed half centuries to ensure Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

After being sent in to bat, KKR amassed 174 for eight from their 20 overs, with captain Ajinkya Rahane topscoring with 56 from 31 balls, while Narine made 44 from 26 with five fours and three sixes.

Sunil Narine made 44 at the top of the order for the Kolkata Knight Riders

Andre Russell made just four from three balls.

Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya was the pick of RCB’s bowlers with 3-29, while pacer Josh Hazlewood took 2-22.

Kohli and Salt then shared a 95-run opening stand inside nine overs to help propel RCB to 177 for three in only 16.2.

Kohli finished unbeaten on 59 from 36 balls with four fours and three sixes, and Salt bludgeoned 56 from 31 balls, inclusive of nine fours and two sixes, to set the tone for the run chase.

Later on, captain Rajat Patidar smashed 34 off 16 balls to ensure RCB began their IPL season on a winning note.

Narine was KKR’s best bowler with 1-27 from his four overs.