Image Source: Agencies

A merciless fifty by Venkatesh Iyer filled in as the impetus for Kolkata Knight Riders' smooth seven-wicket triumph over Illustrious Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL match here today.

Venkatesh's 50 off 30 balls, with three fours and four sixes, and dazzling barrages by openers Sunil Narine (47 off 22 balls, with two fours and five sixes) and Phil Salt (30 off 20 balls, with two fours and two sixes) impelled the Knight Riders past the 183-run focus on that RCB set for them, which was worked around Virat Kohli's unbeaten 83.

Sunil Narine crushed five sixes and two fours in his 22-ball 47. PTI
In a welcome sight after the match, Kohli and KKR guide Gautam Gambhir, who have not been awesome of companions, were seen embracing one another.

The KKR hitters never got stalled either by a sluggish pitch or RCB's bowlers as they chased down the objective in 16.5 overs.

Their methodology on the night was best exemplified by Venkatesh, who is making a solid attempt to recover his pertinence in white-ball designs, as the left-given player added 75 runs for the third wicket with captain Shreyas Iyer (39 not out).

Venkatesh found his reach from the word go as pacer Alzarri Joseph experienced the brunt of his forceful aims.

He biffed the West Indian speedy for 20 runs in an over that contained two sixes over cover and mid-wicket and a controlled four to third man other than a leg-bye limit.

Shreyas, who was dropped on five by Yash Dayal off nearby pacer Vysakh Vijayakumar (1/23), just played the supporting part on the evening.

"Not anticipating a lot. Season has quite recently begun and we have only two wins up to this point. We really want to embrace this and partake in one another's prosperity," Shreyas said at the post-match show.

The guests' pursuit started frantically as Narine and Salt added 86 runs in 6.3 overs through a variety of stunning shots.

"Incredible to perform this way. Help likewise to get it sooner or later," Player of the Match Narine, who was showing up in his 500th T20 match, said.

Gotten some information about his endeavors with the bat, Narine said, "Simply self-conviction and the care staff giving support. A tad of difficult work and it is making a difference. It helps when you win. Certainty is coming from the care staff."

Prior, Kohli's skilful fifty framed the underpinning of RCB's cutthroat 182/6.

Kohli (83 off 59 balls, with four fours and four sixes) and Cameron Green (33 off 21 balls) drained 65 runs off 42 balls for the subsequent wicket, the essential partnership in RCB's innings.

Brief scores: Imperial Challengers Bengaluru: 182/6 (Kohi 83*, Green 33; Russell 2/29, Harshit 2/39); Kolkata Knight Riders: 186/3 in 16.5 overs (Venkatesh 50, Narine 47, Shreyas 39*; Vyshak 1/23).