Kohli hits unbeaten century as RCB move top

[Reuters]

Virat Kohli hit a brilliant unbeaten 105 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets to move top of the Indian Premier League table.

Opening the batting, the 37-year-old struck 11 fours and three sixes in his 60-ball innings as RCB chased down their target of 193 with five balls to spare.

Kohli, who was dismissed for ducks in his two previous innings but is still averaging over 50 for the fourth consecutive year, lost opening partner Jacob Bethell for 15 when he was caught and bowled by Kartik Tyagi.

He put on 92 with Devdutt Padikkal (37), before the impact substitute was dismissed by Tyagi, who would later remove Tim David on his way to figures of 3-32.

By that point RCB were in full control of the chase, needing 13 off 13 balls, and Kohli had time to bring up his first hundred of the season, off 58 deliveries, before Jitesh Sharma struck a winning four.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi was the top-scorer in the KKR innings after they were put into bat, striking 71 off 46 balls from number three.

The wicketkeeper put on partnerships of 68 with Cameron Green (32) and 76 with Rinku Singh (49 not out) and was run out off the final ball of the KKR innings as they closed on 192-4.

The win moves defending champions RCB above Gujarat Titans at the top of the table on net run-rate, while KKR remain eighth after four-match winning streak was brought to an end.

Scorecard; Table