India captain Virat Kohli stepped up his preparations for the World Cup in England with a brilliant century for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. India captain Virat Kohli stepped up his World Cup preparations with a brilliant century for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Kohli smashed a 58-ball 100, his fifth in the IPL, to help Bangalore reach 4-213 from their 20 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Bangalore skipper Kohli showed patience at the start as he brought up his fifty in 40 deliveries but it took him only another 17 balls to reach his century. His previous four IPL hundreds all came in 2016. The 30-year-old smashed nine fours and four sixes before he fell to the final ball of the Bangalore innings. Look out world, here comes Virat Kohli. England all-rounder Moeen Ali also played a blistering knock of 66 off 28 balls, hitting six sixes and five fours to seize momentum for his team. Kolkata came close thanks to a 118-run partnership between Nitish Rana (85 not out) and Windies power-hitter Andre Russell (65) but finished on 5-203, 10 runs short of Bangalore’s total. Aussie star Chris Lynn was dismissed by Dale Steyn, who had returned to Bangalore after nine years, reducing Kolkata to 3-33 in the fifth over. Meanwhile, Aussie stars Cameron Bancroft and James Pattinson turned in stellar performances to lift their county cricket sides in England. Bancroft’s second unbeaten hundred in as many matches led Durham to a six-wicket win over Leicestershire in the Royal London One-Day Cup. The Foxes rebuilt from 7-112 to reach 9-233, with Tom Taylor (59) and Dieter Klein (46) putting on 81, but skipper Bancroft’s 118 not out ensured a comfortable home win in the North Group. Lancashire came up just short of a remarkable chase despite record team and individual scores for the county as Nottinghamshire held on for an 11-run win. Joe Clarke’s 139 and quick runs from Tom Moores (74 off 39 balls) and Luke Fletcher (46no off 17) took Notts to 7-417. Stephen Croft hit 110 and Dane Vilas an extraordinary 166 off 100 balls to give the Red Rose hope, but Pattinson took 5-61 including the wicket of Vilas to leave them 9-406.<doc-sep>Royal Challengers Bangalore and India skipper Virat Kohli registered his first century of IPL 2019, against Kolkata Knight Riders, at the Eden Gardens on Friday. Kohli smashed a 58-ball 100, his fifth in the IPL, to help RCB cross the 200-run mark. He hit four sixes and nine fours as RCB finished at 213 for the loss of four wickets. All his four IPL centuries had come in 2016, the season where RCB perhaps had the best chance to lay its hands on the trophy, but it lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. With the Team India 15-member squad announced for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Kohli's IPL ton will hold him in good stead leading up to the mega event. Virat Kohli after scoring four #IPL centuries in 9 inns in April-May 2016 hasn't made one since then in 35 innings. His IPL record since: 1224 runs, ave 39.48, S/r 130.49, 50s: 12 (HS 92*)#IPL2019#KKRvRCB — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 19, 2019 Prior to the ton, Kohli had a mixed IPL with only two half-centuries under his belt. RCB lost seven out of its first eight games this season; Kohli's consistency is a good sign for the beleaguered outfit.<doc-sep>Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli played a brilliant knock at the Eden Gardens on Friday as he smashed his fifth century in the IPL 2019 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Kohli opened the innings along with Parthiv Patel and the former was there at the crease till the last ball when he was finally dismissed by Harry Gurney for 100 after facing 58 deliveries. Kohli’s knock was laced with 9 fours and four maximums. The RCB captain was supported well by Moeen Ali (66 off 28 balls) as the visitors posted a mammoth 213 for 4 in their full quota of 20 overs. Here’s how the cricketing world reacted on Twitter: 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 Virat Kohli has shown us once again why he is regarded 'The Best' Hunger & Passion Unlimited 🔥#KKRvRCB — Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 19, 2019 Considering the situation RCB are in the IPL this season, outstanding effort from @imVkohli. Not giving up! — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 19, 2019 That was really enjoy watching that @imVkohli hundred. Quite a few interesting knocks in this years #viviipl where openers are seeing the importance of batting through the innings or going deep. Let’s see if @RCBTweets can defend this total. — Ian bishop (@irbishi) April 19, 2019 50 of 40 balls and another 50 in just 17 more , only King Kohli @imVkohli can do this to one of the best attacks in IPL today, magnificent display of batsmanship and an amazing Century, #RCBvsKKR #IPL2019 #KingKohli — Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) April 19, 2019 . @RCBTweets didn't look like getting 200+ but what a class performance from @imVkohli!! Moen too looked too good for @KKRiders bowlers, strange that Piyush Chawla bowled just one over?#KKRvRCB — R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 19, 2019 Fantastic Ton Champ. King Kohli Reigns in Eden Gardens. What a treat for fans turning up. #KKRvRCB. #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/tXtREpimr9 — Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) April 19, 2019 Sensational 100. The acceleration from Kohli has been awesome. Moeen set up the carnage and Kohli sealed it dramatically — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 19, 2019 Most IPL centuries: 6 Gayle 5 KOHLI 4 Warner, Watson 3 ABD#KKRvRCB — Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 19, 2019 Most centuries in Twenty20 cricket as captain: 6 – Michael Klinger 5 – VIRAT KOHLI 3 – Chirs Gayle#IPL2019 #KKRvRCB — Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 19, 2019<doc-sep>
Indian captain Virat Kohli stepped up his World Cup preparations with a brilliant century for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League on Friday. Kohli smashed a 58-ball 100, his fifth in the IPL, to help Bangalore reach 213 for 4 from their 20 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Bangalore skipper Kohli showed patience at the start as he brought up his fifty in 40 deliveries but it took him only another 17 balls to reach his century. His previous four IPL hundreds all came in 2016. Let’s now take a look at some of the important numbers and milestones that were reached in this clash. Virat Kohli became the the 8th cricketer and 2nd RCB players after Chris Gayle to score a century against KKR. This was also his third consecutive 50+ score against the two-time champions. Moeen Ali and Virat Kohli put together a 90-run stand for the 3rd wicket, which is the second-highest third wicket partnership for RCB this season. Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav endured a dreadful match as he was the most expensive KKR bowler on the night. He conceded 59 runs off his 4 overs, out of which 45 runs were scored by Moeen Ali. His spell is also the second most expensive spell by a KKR bowler in the history of IPL. Andre Russell scored his 7th IPL fifty, out of which 3 have come in the ongoing season itself. This was his first fifty against RCB. 62 runs out of his 66-run innings were in boundaries. ((With agency inputs))