Extending their winning run, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets to register their third win of the season eleven.
Defending a modest total of 160, Ajinkya Rahane went for the tried and tested ploy of starting off things with a spinner. The move immediately paid off as Krishnappa Gowtham castled the dangerous Chris Lynn for a duck in the first over.
However, Sunil Narine and Robin Uthappa did not let the hosts make further quick inroads in the game.
The duo mixed caution with aggression to take the innings forward. They added 69 runs for the second wicket before Narine was run-out against the run of play. The Windies score 35 off 25 balls with the help of five fours and a solitary six.
Uthappa and Nitish Rana then helped the visitors enter the three-digit mark in the 13th over.
The game was drifting away fast from the hosts before Gowtham dismissed Uthappa for 48 – to make the contest interesting. Uthappa was dismissed when Kolkata reached the 102 on the board.
The boundaries dried up after Uthappa’s departure. However, Dinesh Karthik and Rana kept the scoreboard ticking at a healthy rate with ones and twos.
The visitors always looked in command during the chase. They eventually reached home in the 19th over. Karthik scored unbeaten 42 off 23 whereas, Rana scored 35 off 27 not out.
That Kolkata got such a modest total to chase was primarily because of their fine bowling effort. Fresh off the fine show in the last game, the visitors restricted Royals to a total of 160 for 8.
Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav made a bright start with the ball, conceding only nine off the 3 overs. Ajinkya Rahane then broke the shackles by hitting four consecutive fours off Sunil Narine.
On the other hand, D’Arcy Short was struggling to get going against the spinners, batting at a strike-rate of less than 100.
At the end of the powerplay, Rajasthan were 48 for no loss with Rahane scoring 35 of them.
However, Rahane could not last long and was run out for 36 in the first over of the powerplay.
Shivam Mavi then put the visitors on top by dismissing in-form Sanju Samson cheaply. The two big wickets helped Knight Riders slow down the scoring rate as Rajasthan huffed and puffed to 71 after 10 overs.
Short soon found his groove but before he couldn’t inflict any damage on Kolkata, Nitish Rana ended former’s 44-run knock.
Royals’ middle-order failed to get going from there on. As a result, the Royals’ innings never got the impetus against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
Always rated Robin Uthappa highly in the shortest format…perhaps, should’ve played for India a little more in T20s. #RRvKKR #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 18, 2018
Been such a horror day for Rajasthan with their tactics. They have been comfortably outplayed. Some real silly cricket
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 18, 2018
Karthik and Rana in total control, KKR simply too good for Rajasthan defending modest target
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2018
Kolkata Knight Riders become the first team to win 50 matches while chasing in the IPL. They were also the first team with 50 wins in the Twenty20 format while chasing. #IPL2018 #RRvKKR
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 18, 2018
Bring back Pune Warriors
— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 18, 2018
What a catch! We all know Ben Stokes capable of excellent balance, footwork and doesn't care about boundaries much ? #IPL
— cricBC (@cricBC) April 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/graphicalcomic/status/986661981200396288
Ben Stokes isn't in good form but he still has fielding skills to create something out of nothing.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 18, 2018
Uthappa deserves a chance in national t 20 team.
— Wolfgang (@UniqueIdiot_) April 18, 2018
When Nitish Rana comes to bowl #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/Kpgyhh9x7u
— Right Arm Over (@RightArmOver_) April 18, 2018
Looks like Russell has been working on Rana’s hair #RRvKKR
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/Mister_Awesomee/status/986635181980184577
https://twitter.com/iamsrk_brk/status/986638447078191105
Rajasthan Royals have fielded the same XI in all 4 matches.
They are the only team not to have used more than 11 players in this season. #RRvKKR
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/beingparanjape/status/986638359354314752
Dinesh Karthik's quick work behind the stumps brings back memories of his neat glove work to dismiss Michael Vaughan in the 2005 NatWest series. #IPL2018 #RRvKKR #RRvsKKR pic.twitter.com/W6aOu44E0Q
— Khurram Siddiquee (@iamkhurrum12) April 18, 2018
Darcy reading spin off the pitch. Can’t see a huge change in his fortunes this IPL. A lot of spin will be bowled at him. Gotta make way for Klassen in the next game. #RRvKKR #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 18, 2018
Rajasthan Royals matches ki sirf highlights dikhani chahiye. Even Karni Sena members would agree.
— gcg ⚰️ (@The_Sleigher) April 18, 2018
For Kolkata, Nitish Rana has been of splendid VFM. For those confounded, this means Value For Money #IPL2018
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2018
If D'Arcy keeps playing like this, his IPL career is going to be really Short
— Jatin (@LogicalBakwaas) April 18, 2018
Tripathi ahead of Stokes and Buttler is surprising. Even if they wanted the combo of a left and right-handed batsman (which is quite overrated imo), they could have sent Jos Buttler.
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) April 18, 2018
Not Sure What Is More Shocking, Ajinkya Rahane Smoking A Bowler For 4 Straight Fours Or The Fact That Bowler Was Sunil Narine. #RRvKKR #RRvsKKR #KKRvRR
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 18, 2018
WOW Rahane!
Almost brought back the memories of 2012 where he hit Aravind for six 4s in an over. Probably the only batsman to do that in IPL. #IPL2018— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) April 18, 2018
Class batting by Rahane. He made Narine bowl to his strengths.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) April 18, 2018
Started today in 2008. Nobody would have guessed what the #IPL would grow into.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 18, 2018
So good to see KKR persisting with under-19 stars Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi. This kind of exposure can hasten their growth…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2018
Also read: IPL 2018: Watch – Ben Stokes Takes an Amazing Boundary Catch to Send Back Uthappa