Following a defeat in their first match, the Kolkata Knight Riders bounced back with a convincing eight-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. The KKR spinners performed admirably, managing to limit RR to a score of 151/9, even in the absence of Sunil Narine. Quinton de Kock led the chase with an impressive unbeaten 97 runs off 61 balls, featuring 8 fours and 6 sixes, allowing KKR to reach the target in just 17.3 overs.
Rajasthan Royals collapse as KKR Spinners trap them
The RR openers began their innings with nine runs off Spencer Johnson in the first over, featuring a top-edged pull for four by Yashasvi Jaiswal and a well-placed boundary behind square on the off side by Sanju Samson. Following an economical over from Vaibhav Arora, which yielded just 5 runs, Johnson’s next over saw 12 runs scored, including Jaiswal’s first six, struck over the leg side. Although Arora managed to restrict Samson in his initial over, the latter attempted to break free by moving around the crease and hitting a boundary, only to be bowled shortly after as he yorked himself while advancing down the pitch. Riyan Parag managed to hit a six off Harshit Rana, but the bowler only conceded 7 runs in the fifth over. A pair of sixes from Parag and Jaiswal off Arora allowed RR to surpass the 50-run mark in the final over of the powerplay.
Despite hitting two sixes and two fours during the powerplay, Jaiswal was not at his best, struggling with timing and finding gaps. In contrast, Parag was scoring at a faster rate and hit his third six off a short delivery from Varun. However, RR’s stand-in captain fell in the same over, misjudging a lofted shot that Quinton de Kock caught at a height. Moeen was performing steadily at the other end and was rewarded when Jaiswal offered a catch to long on.
Wanindu Hasaranga, who replaced Fazalhaq Farooqi, was elevated in the batting order but failed to make an impact, becoming Varun’s second wicket. To compound RR’s difficulties, Nitish Rana attempted to create space for himself but was bowled by Moeen, who concluded his spell with commendable figures of 2-23. Dhruv Jurel managed to score a couple of fortunate boundaries off Harshit, helping RR reach the 100-run mark in the 14th over. Shubham Dubey, the impact substitute, fell to Arora after hitting a boundary, leaving RR with significant challenges ahead at 110/6 after 15 overs.
Varun concluded his bowling spell at the beginning of the death overs, allowing just 2 runs in his final over, resulting in figures of 2 for 17. In the 17th over, Jurel scored two boundaries off Harshit, contributing 11 runs to the total. However, only 8 runs were added in the subsequent over bowled by Johnson. Harshit capped off his spell with an impressive over, claiming the wickets of both Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer, while conceding just 7 runs in the 19th over, despite Jofra Archer hitting a six. Archer also managed to hit another six off Johnson in the final over before being dismissed by the Australian pacer, as RR narrowly surpassed the 150-run mark.
Quinton De Kock smashes a stunning 97 and wins it for KKR
Following his record-setting IPL spell, Archer began with impressive speed and bounce, effectively challenging Moeen in the first over while allowing just 2 runs. De Kock initiated the scoring with a boundary off Maheesh Theekshana, then aggressively faced Archer, hitting a four and a six with powerful cuts and pulls. He later swept Theekshana for another six, although only nine runs were scored in that over, followed by a six-run over from Parag, as RR managed to restrict KKR’s scoring rate. Sandeep Sharma, utilizing his variations, effectively contained the batting during the powerplay for RR, conceding just 5 runs without taking a wicket, leading KKR to become the first team in this IPL to finish the powerplay with a total under 50.
Moeen’s difficulties (5 runs off 12 balls) concluded when he was run out while attempting a second run. Hasaranga then entered the bowling attack and was hit for boundaries by both de Kock and Ajinkya Rahane, allowing KKR to surpass 50 runs in the eighth over, which was two runs more than RR had managed. On a pitch favorable to slower bowlers, Parag bowled a third over, maintaining tight control. Theekshana and RR opted for a review on an lbw appeal, which was unsuccessful, followed by a well-executed pull shot from Rahane that relieved some pressure with a six.
In the same over, de Kock also reviewed an lbw decision, but once again, the ruling did not favor RR. Hasaranga made an impact in his second over, inducing Rahane to top-edge a sweep, while de Kock launched a six over deep midwicket to reach a fifty off 36 balls. He also hit a six off Parag in his final over, while Hasaranga was struck for two fours (one each by de Kock and Raghuvanshi) as KKR crossed the 100-run mark in the 13th over, achieving this milestone faster than RR. A boundary from Raghuvanshi off Rana reduced the required run rate from 8.2 at the end of the 10th over to 6.8 by the end of the 15th.
With 34 needed off 5 overs, it was smooth sailing for KKR. A boundary of Tushar Deshpande, was followed by Theekshana giving away 5 wides, making it easier for KKR. De Kock finished it off in the 18th over, striking a four and two sixes off Archer to power his team’s convincing victory.
SCORECARD: Rajasthan Royals 151/9 in 20 overs (Dhruv Jurel 33, Yashasvi Jaiswal 29; Varun Chakaravarthy 2-17, Moeen Ali 2-23) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 153/2 in 17.3 overs (Quinton de Kock 97*, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 22*; Wanindu Hasaranga 1-34) by 8 wickets.
