One of the integral members of the Royal Challengers Bangalore outfit, AB de Villiers congratulated Virat Kohli and Moeen Ali for their terrific knocks against the Kolkata Knight Riders which helped Royal Challengers Bangalore post a mammoth 213 in their allotted 20 overs. RCB are faced with a knockout situation for the rest of the tournament. One more defeat will knock them out of the tournament and after posting a huge total, Bangalore will be hopeful of defending the huge score.
AB de Villiers who missed today’s match owing to an injury sat back and took to his twitter handle to congratulate the duo. “VIRAT!!!!!!!!!!! you little biscuit @imVkohli Top knock from @MoeenaliAli as wellBowlers to follow through what’s been a very good 1st half,” De Villiers wrote. We all know the mutual respect which the duo shares and it was quite apparent that De Villiers would tweet after Kohli’s 5th IPL century.
VIRAT!!!!!!!!!!!??? you little biscuit @imVkohli Top knock from @MoeenaliAli as well?Bowlers to follow through what’s been a very good 1st half
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 19, 2019
It was Dinesh Karthik who put the visitors in. After an indifferent start, it was the partnership between Moeen Ali and Virat Kohli which got Bangalore back into the match. The innings of Moeen Ali was quite special given the circumstances of the game. He smashed 6 sixes and 5 fours during his exceptional knock of 66 of 27 deliveries. His exploits included a 27 runs over of world-class chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav.
After his dismissal, Virat Kohli took the onus on himself to take Bangalore to a big total. He started smashing the KKR bowlers all around the park and neared a well deserved century. He eventually reached his century in the final over and his celebrations knew what it meant for him. Marcus Stoinis also played a good hand and remained unbeaten on 17 of 8 deliveries. Meanwhile, Kohli’s knock of 100 came in 58 deliveries and was studded with 9 fours and 4 sixes.
When the article was written, KKR had already lost their opening wicket of Chris Lynn. Dale Steyn who is playing for RCB after 9 years bagged his first wicket in his maiden over. KKR are on 19/1 in 2.4 overs.