Royal Challengers Bangalore gave a perfect start to the first double header of the season with their explosive batting that helped them defeat arch rivals Kolkata Knight Riders by 38 runs on Sunday at Chennai.

Chasing a mammoth target of 204, KKR were off to an aggressive start but kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Shubman Gill (21 off 8) Rahul Tripathi ( 25 off 19) and captain Eoin Morgan (29 off 23) got off to a good start but couldn't convert them into big figures. After Morgan fell prey to Harshal Patel, KKR required 91 off 38 balls. Shakib couldn't clear the fences, but Russell muscled Yuzvendra Chahal 6, 4, 4, 4 in the 17th over to pose a threat to RCB's intentions. However the required run rate was still around 20. The 19th over bowled by Mohammed Siraj featured some immaculate yorkers that denied Russsell even of singles.

With 43 required off the last over, RCB's Harshal Patel only sparred 5 runs to end his day of 2/17. Russell smashed 31 off 20 deliveries in his fight back but that couldn't suffice as the Knights fell short of 38 runs to hand RCB their third win on the trot. Jamieson finished with 3 for 41.

Earlier the RCB won the toss and chose to bat first. Skipper Virat Kohli got out cheaply on 5 in the second over bowled by Varun Chakravarthy, attempting to drive only to be caught at the covers by Rahul Tripathi. Chakravarthy then dismissed Rajat Patidar after four balls.

Maxwell took his time to settle down as he hit 7 off his first 7, but soon shifted gears. Maxwell took Shakib's over for 17 runs to take RCB's power play score to 45/2. Maxwell continued his 'big show' as he picked 5 more fours and a six in the next five overs. By the time Padikkal made his way back to the pavilion after his 28-ball 25 in the 12th over, Maxwell had smashed 60 off 34 deliveries.

Then walked in the great man, AB de Villiers. After some quick singles and doubles, he unleashed his assault with successive fours in the 15th over, followed by consecutive boundaries. Post Maxwell's dismissal, when RCB still had 18 balls in hand at the score of 148, ABD launched Russell for a maximum and two fours. AB reached his half century in 27 balls hitting Harbhajan for a six in the 19th over.

Saving his best for the last, de Villiers added another 21 runs off Russell in the 20th over and with Kyle Jamieson joining the party with his 11 from 4, RCB put up 56 in their final three overs, ending their innings on 204/4 with de Villiers scoring an unbeaten 76 off 34.