Mumbai: Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh's batting display helped Kolkata Knight Riders to defeat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets after they chased down 153-run target in an IPL match at Wankhede Stadium here on Monday.
They stitched a match-winning unbeaten 66 runs partnership for 4th wicket. Rana and Rinku remained unbeaten with 48 and 42 runs respectively, with the final score reading at 158 for 3.
With this win, KKR had some glimmer of hope, especially after losing the last 5 matches. In fact, Rinku took the pressure off his team-mate with a slew of shots. In the 19th over, he belted a couple of boundaries and pilfered 17 off Prasidh's over, which made the result a foregone conclusion.
Rana gave the finishing touches with a six off Kuldeep Sen. KKR sent out Aaron Finch and Baba Indrajith as their latest opening combination, but did not work, with both players falling early, but Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana since put on 60 runs for the third wicket.
The pair started out slow, but picked up pace after the 10th over. Kuldeep continued to impress. Finch (4 off 7 balls) tried to slash, but could only manage an inside edge onto the stumps.
Prasidh Krishna followed Kuldeep by removing Indrajith (15 off 16) with a bouncer. The KKR batsman managed to pull it to fine leg into the hands of Ravindran Ashwin.
KKR needed a big over to get some momentum which came in the 11th over when Rana smacked Ashwin for 2 boundaries and a six, perhaps edging ahead slightly.
Shreyas Iyer (34) and Rana shared a key alliance, but the captain lost his wicket after he aimed to pull but could only edge to keeper Sanju Samson. The umpire, though, didn't appear to hear the sound of the nick down the leg side. He ended up giving it as a wide too, but Samson went for the review and succeeded.
KKR inched closer needing 31 off 3 overs with Rana still at the crease. Rinku played his part with a six and a four off Kuldeep and Prasidh. Even though the boundary came off a top-edge, that boundary gave KKR some breathing space.
Earlier, KKR managed to keep the dangerous RR batsmen including Samson and Jos Buttler silent as RR set a 153-run target. Kolkata bowlers restricted Rajasthan to 152/2 after opting to field first.
Buttler was uncharacteristically subdued at the start, while Devdutt Padikkal's poor run continued. Samson walked in and looked prepared to up the ante.
A good catch ended Buttler's innings, but unfortunately Samson injured his back, which caused him pain and restricted his mobility and ability to go for big shots. He played one of his slowest IPL innings to get to his fifty before getting out.
At the death overs, Shimron Hetmyer (27 no off 13 balls) played an attacking game to get RR above 150.
Once again for KKR, Umesh Yadav (1/24) and Sunil Narine who gave only 19 runs in four overs, were excellent, while Tim Southee had a rough night after he conceded 46 runs but picked two wickets.
KKR elected to bowl even though it is a used wicket. Samson completed his half-century in the 14th over.
But in the same over, Karun Nair, who was looking to make a comeback, was holed out to deep mid-wicket off Anukul Roy after scoring 13 in as many balls.
Umesh once again extracted movement off the very first delivery he bowled to Buttler. He dismissed Padikkal (2) after he spooned a catch back to the bowler off his wobbly fuller length ball.
Though Samson cracked Umesh on the up and through the line via the covers and also smacked Anukul into the downtown territories and Buttler on the other end also essayed a punch, RR's run-rate was still just around six.
RR needed to hit top gear soon, but a fine catch by Shivam Mavi at long-on brought to end Buttler's innings. He scored 22 off 25 balls with three boundaries before the Englishman hit it flat of a 3/4th delivery by Tim Southee.
The slide continued as Riyan Parag pulled Southee for a six, the veteran Kiwi had the last laugh as he dismissed him with another short ball. A little more height from Southee did the trick. Samson then was dislodged by Shivam Mavi. RR slided to 116 for 5 in the 18th over.
During his stay, the RR Captain called for a review of umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal giving him leg before off Southee's ball, which led to overturning of the decision as slower ball angling in was missing leg.
The RR captain was caught by Rinku Singh after he lifted the length ball at deep midwicket. The shot did not impart power or timing needed to go all the way.
He scored 54 off 49 with 7 boundaries and a six to his credit. RR got 30 off the last two overs, though most experts consider 152 a below-par total. (UNI)
