IPL 2019 | Moeen Ali, Virat Kohli made the difference, says Dinesh Karthik

IPL 2019 | Moeen Ali, Virat Kohli made the difference, says Dinesh Karthik

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IPL

Dinesh Karthik has stated that Moeen Ali and Virat Kohli’s phenomenal batting took the game away from Kolkata Knight Riders and it enabled Royal Challengers Bangalore to get an above par total of 213. Kohli scored 100 off 58 while Ali blasted 66 of 28, making things difficult for KKR.

Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and asked Royal Challengers Bangalore to bat first. The Virat Kohli-led side were chugging along until the ninth over where they stood for 60 runs for two losses. However, Moeen Ali and Kohli changed the complexion of the match, as RCB raced to 149 by the end of the 16th over. KKR eyed a comeback in the death overs but the duo of Marcus Stoinis and the skipper ensured that RCB reach a huge total of 213 runs. In the process, Kuldeep Yadav conceded the second highest runs by a KKR bowler in the Indian Premier League. The KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik was all praise for the India captain and the English all-rounder, while acknowledging the fact that they gave away 20-25 runs in excess.

“I think the way Moeen batted, he took the game away from us. He played a few good shots and credit to him. I thought they were 20-25 runs too many and that's what happens when a player like Virat plays. It was a brilliant knock from him,” said Dinesh Karthik, at the post-match presentation ceremony, reported PTI.

Both the teams started well with their opening bowling but the RCB duo of Dale Steyn and Navdeep Saini made the perfect start as they sent three KKR batsmen back to the dressing room within the powerplay itself. The two-time champions came back into the game, courtesy the fiery knocks of Andre Russell and Nitish Rana but fell short by 11 runs. The skipper remarked that the new ball was moving around a bit but did not fail to credit RCB for making it count in pressure situations.

“The ball was seaming a little, and the new ball had a bit in it and it wasn't easy for stroke-making. If I had to look back, it was 20 runs too many. This is a hard wicket for the spinners and we were aware that we could take on their spinners and that brought the game close. I think RCB did the small things right today,” explained the 33-year-old.

The Jacques Kallis-coached side had started well this season but have lost steam after losing four matches consecutively, three of those being home games. They are currently placed sixth on the points table with four wins in nine games but the skipper is positive of the side’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

“If we play a couple of good games things will start to roll and I believe in my boys. If we do the right things we will be back on track,” he signed off.

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