In the 54th match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 60 runs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With the loss, RR have been knocked out of the tournament while KKR have reached the fourth spot in the points table.
Chasing a challenging target of 192, Royals needed a good start which they got as Robin Uthappa (6), and Ben Stokes took Pat Cummins to the cleaners in the very first over. The duo slammed two sixes and a f♚our to put pressure on the Aussie pacer. However, soon the New South Wales bowler got h🥃is revenge by removing Uthappa on the last ball of his over.
The wicket of Uthappa opened floodgates as RR’s top order fell like a pack of cards. They lost half their side in the powerplay. Cummins was the chief architect behind the destruction as he dismissed Stokes (18) in the third over of the innings. And in the same over he cleaned up RR captain Steve Smith (4).
Shivam Mavi also joined the party as in the fourth over of RR’s chase; he picked up the prized wicket of Sanju Samson (1). Then, in the penultimate over of the powerplay, Cummins came back to bag his fourth scalp of the match in the form of Riyan Parag (0).
RR were struggling at 37/5, and from thereon, Jos Buttler (35) along with Rahul Tewatia (31) tried to steady the ship. The pair put together a vital stand of 43 runs for the sixth wicket before Varun Chakravarthy sent Buttler back to the hut.
Chakravarthy didn’t just stop there as in the 15th over, the mystery spinner removed Tewatia from the middle.
In the end, Royals could only reach 131/9, losing the contest by 60 runs.
Eoin Morgan’s unbeaten 68 pushed KKR to 191/7
Earlier, KKR had a terrible start as they lost the opener, Nitish Rana, for a duck. RR pacer Jofra Archer dismissed the l🐼eft-handeꦦd batsman on the second ball of the match.
Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi then added crucial partnership of 72 runs for the second wicket. Before Gill could do more damage, he was outfoxed by Tewatia on 36. In the same over, Tewatia also sent back Sunil Narine for a duck.
The dismissal of Narine followed wickets of Tripathi and Dinesh Karthik in quick succession.
Andre Russell and KKR skipper Eoin Morgan tried to shift the momentum by adding 43 runs for the sixth wicket. But Kartik Tyagi sent back 🌠R𒊎ussell to the dugout to provide one more blow to the two-time champions.
However, that didn’t stop Morgan to score quick runs. The English cricketer smashed 6 sixes and 5 fours during his unbeaten knock of 68 from 35 balls. Morgan hit a maximum off the last ball of the innings to take KKR to 191/7.
For Royals, Tewatia bagged three wickets while Kartik picked up two scalps. Shreyas Gopal and Archer also claimed one wicket each.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Co🍃mprehensive victory for leading from the front wi൲th unbelievable batting and superb bowling from helped KKR reach top 4 on points table.
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
Top clas𝄹s innings under ⛦pressure Well done skip vs KKR
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35)
Huge win🍌 for they will be keep༒ing an eye on the next two games very closely!
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Sensational from . Have given themselves a real chance of qualifying. Didn't think they could at 100-5 after 13. Morgan and Cummins and that catch from Karthik! But it was as much the pressure of the chase that got to RR.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
As turns 55 tomorrow, he is getting THE BEST birthday gift with winning today’s match and then having a really good shot at the playoffs෴!!
— Joginder Tuteja (@Tutejajoginder)
This is ruthless bowling💥
— Sheldon Jackson (@ShelJackson27)
Big games are meant for big play⭕ers. Captain Morgan and Pat Cummins instrumental in a huge victory. Now, only a ‘slender’ defeat would keep the loser of game alive without worrying 🍌about the result. has done what they could have. Over to LUCK.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
༺ win by 60 runs to keep their hopes alivဣe in 2020.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL)
KKR's position in Points Table:
After 29 Oct – No. 5
After 30 Oct – No. 6
After 31 Oct – No. 7
After 1st game on 1st Nov – No. 8
After 2nd game on 1st Nov – No. 4What a turn-around #5 to #6 to #7 to #8 t🍬o #4 in 4 days !!!
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath)
Pat Cummins at today:
First five balls ➡️ 19 runs
Next 19 balls ➡️ 15 runs, 4️⃣ wickets 🔥How do you thi꧟nk he will go against ꦗIndia later this year?
— ICC (@ICC)
Rajasthan Royals not only lost, but they also finished last! Now, SRH's win will finally settle the play-off positions. Morgan, Russell and Cummins, the overseas superstar did it for KKR.
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
England’s , & won’t feature in the playoffs. are knocked out by & his sꦺide.
— Test Match Special (@bbctms)
What a match! 😍
Moment to remember! 🎉
It's one of the best birthday gift from to 😍We won ❤️
Thank You
Congratulations 👏— Tea🦄m Shah Rukh Khan Fan Club (@teamsrkfc)
Ne▨ver been so excited to see who will be at the 𝓡bottom of the table. CSK or RR.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar)
Rajasthan gave false hopes with that start in Sharjah tbh. Missed Stokes at the start but too many changes and some really poor calls from Smith. Out of form and made some realꦐly risky calls with batting and bowling options. Hope they find better balance next yea🐬r.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS)
