Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 6th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

RCB made a potboiler out of a regular chase. Whacking Wednesday as promised turned out to be too close for the RCB unit who have opened their account in this season. They couldn't defend 200 the other day and almost faltered while chasing a 130 score. RCB continue to show two sides of the spectrum. Somethings seldom change. The pitch had some spice in it but the batters played it into the hands of the bowlers as well for most of the dismissals. KKR will be a satisfied lot despite the loss as their side fought tooth and nail till the end. The injury to Andre Russell might have them nervous but otherwise, they look good. Hope we had you rooted to the edge of the seats just like the match did to us. This is KAD signing off on behalf of Sagar Chawla. Abhinand Raghavendran and Mukesh.

Wanindu Hasaranga, Man of the Match: Crucial situation, I got only four and got out. I am really happy. Specially with the dew it is very hard to bowl. My favorite footballer is Neymar and that is his celebration which I do. When I go play, I don't take any pressure. That's why I feel I got success.

Faf du Plessis: Very happy. Close small margins game are very important at the start. Small score, we just tried to be positive but very good bowling from their seamers. The ball swung a little more earlier but today there was seam and bounce. Two three days ago, it was 200 and today it was 130. We would like to be more convincing. Just the experience. The runs were never a problem. We just needed to have wickets in hand. DK is as close as it gets to MS Dhoni when it comes to being ice cool. I rely on other people for help. We have great people in the camp. There is good communication in the group. The guys have been great. They have been supportive. They are coming to me with ideas.

Shahbaz Ahmed: Thinking was to bat with positive intent, wanted to maintain the flow of runs and take the game as deep as we could. Wanted to take chances off their fifth bowler - Russell and Venkatesh Iyer. There was help for the seamers off this pitch. Difficult for spinners as there was a lot of dew. Willey and Sherfane had a good partnership.

Iyer (2/2): The wicket was looking a bit dicey at the start, it was two-paced, variable and the bounce was odd. We wanted to get off to a really good start and that's what we planned. The execution part was tough. We are going to come back with the same mindset, we are not going to chicken out. That's what we want to focus on and that's what we spoke about coming into the tournament that we'll be someone who'd be taking risks. Next time when we come, we need to rectify the errors and see to it that we get the momentum as early as possible. He (Wanindu Hasaranga) bowled really well, he got off to a good start after getting my wicket. I was able to read him pretty well at the start. We had decided that we'll play him as an off-spinner but unfortunately he bowled really good lines and lengths. He's also very experienced and he was getting some help on this wicket. Congratulations to him.

Shreyas Iyer (1/2): I really found this game exciting. Before getting in, I spoke with my boys and told them that this game is going to define our character and attitude on the field no matter we defend or not. The way we fight it on the ground, that is really going to reflect our mentality in the next few games. I am really proud the way we played this game and took it till the last over. It was really tough at that moment because I wanted to get my best bowlers up there and get a few wickets early on but it didn't work out really well. Kudos to their batsmen, they played really well out in the middle. They took out the toughest phase as soon as possible. In the end, I decided to go with Venky because he's also got really good experience bowling at international level and you need to back them especially at the start of the tournament. It's really important they gain confidence as early as as possible and this was one of the best games to get that.

23:19 Local Time, 17:49 GMT, 23:19 IST: RCB have huffed and puffed to go over the line. They put KKR into bat. And then the bowlers of RCB took over. They had KKR on the ropes and they threatened to bowl them out for less than a 100. But Dre Russ did put on his old cloak but that was short-lived. Umesh Yadav then flung his willow around to hand KKR 128 to play with. RCB though never imagined that they would be three down in the first three overs as Umesh Yadav and Southee bowled with immaculate control. Rutherford and Willey then batted sensibly and mitigated any further damage. But once both were gone and the cameo from Shahbaz had ended prematurely, it was left to Dinesh Karthik. Yes, the former KKR skipper. He almost survived a tragic run-out to take RCB over the line alongside Harshal Patel who struck couple of timely fours in the penultimate over. Andre Russell got himself injured and with 7 to defend in the last over, he did his best only to fall short. RCB might have won but they will have more questions than answers.

Russell to Karthik, FOUR, RCB win by 3 wickets! DK with the finishing runs. That was a fuller length delivery, Karthik drove it down the ground for the ball to run away into the fence

Russell to Karthik, SIX, short ball, sits up and has been pulled over deep square for a sixer. That was hit so well. The square boundaries aren't the shortest but Karthik has peppered those long fences with elan. The scores are level. The former skipper of KKR is having a quiet laugh which of course ain't visible much

Andre Russell [2.0-0-26-0] is back into the attack

Venkatesh Iyer to Harshal Patel, FOUR, and the tide turns again. Little bit towards RCB. That was short outside off, Harshal Patel flogs that across the line and the pool like dive from the man at long-on to his right goes in vain. Four priceless runs. 7 needed now off 6 balls

Venkatesh Iyer to Harshal Patel, no run, slower delivery, Harshal Patel looks to go across the line and misses. He has lost his calm after the last dot ball. He wanted to steal a bye but was sent back as the keeper was ready to underarm the ball on to the sticks. 11 still needed

Venkatesh Iyer to Harshal Patel, no run, fuller length delivery, Harshal Patel looks to throw his bat at it and misses

Venkatesh Iyer to Harshal Patel, FOUR, this man can do anything. His magic with the ball has now transformed into his batting. That was a short, slower ball and Harshal Patel has scooped it over short fine

Venkatesh Iyer to Karthik, 1 run, only RCB can do this! They almost begged for harakiri there. Both batters at the batter's end and the throw was missed. There was no one backing up there as the throw came at the batter's end and DK/HP survive. 15 needed now

Venkatesh Iyer to Harshal Patel, 1 run, fuller length delivery, pushed away into the off-side for a single as the man at cover failed to cut it off

Venkatesh Iyer, right-arm medium, comes into the attack

Southee to Harshal Patel, 1 run, punches that off the back foot to deep cover for a single as that was a short of length delivery outside off

Harshal Patel, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Nikilesh: Impressed with Iyer and his captaincy, with short boundaries RCB line up he is taking the match till last. Wondering what if Varun had a day like Narine and Russell was bowling ok.

Southee to Hasaranga, out Caught by Russell!! This is no what RCB wanted. KKR's punt to go with Southee has worked. That was a short of length delivery, Hasaranga wanted to lift that away but holes out at mid-off. The fielder ran back gingerly but managed to hold on to it. RCB all of a sudden have imploded. Still 18 needed now. The batter had got a four off the previous delivery and wanted another one. Hasaranga c Russell b Southee 4(3) [4s-1]