IPL 2023: KKR vs RCB - Kolkata spinners run riot as RCB crumble to 123-all out

It was total domination by the Kolkata Knight Riders who marked their homecoming with an emphatic 81-run win against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2023 at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

Put in to bat first, KKR opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave the home team a good start with his 44-ball-57.

However, wickets at quick intervals saw Kolkata being reduced to 89/5 in the 12th over with Andre Russell back in the hut for a golden duck.Lord Thakur though came out all guns blazing and snatched the initiative from RCB.

He smashed a brilliant 29-ball-68 and along with Rinku Singh, who scored 46 off 33, managed to take Kolkata to a mammoth 204.

In reply, the RCB batting lineup witnessed a complete meltdown after the departure of their openers Virat Kohli (21) and Faf du Plessis (23).

Spinners starred on the night with Varun Chakravarthy leading the bowling lineup with 4 dismissals while debutant Suyash Sharma picked up 3 wickets.

Sunil Narine too snaffled a couple. The trio made history as it was for the first time that spinners had taken 9 wickets in an IPL innings, with RCB crumbling to 123-all out in the end.

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