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Tribune News Network
Jaipur
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) cruised to a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in an away game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday.
This was third win in five matches for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan-owned outfit which puts them on the top of points tally along with Sunrisers Hyderabad with six points apiece.
Since winning the toss, everything went as per plan for Dinesh Karthik-led KKR who opted to field first and restricted Rajasthan Royals to 169 for 8.
A quick blow (1-1) while chasing threatened to derail KKR's charge when opener Chris Lynn was bowled for nought by offie Krishnappa Gowtham but that didn't turn out to be the case as the other opener Sunil Narine (35 off 25 balls; 5x4s, 1x6) and Robin Uthappa (48 off 36; 6x4s, 2x6s) shared a 69-run stand to steady the ship.
Nitin Rana (35 not out off 27 balls; 2x4s, 1x6) and Dinesh Karthik 42 not out off 23 balls (2x4s, 2x6s) then followed to complete the formality knocking off the remaining runs to win by seven wickets in 18.5 overs.
This was Rajasthan Royals' third loss in four games and they are now among the three bottom-placed teams with two points with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils.
Earlier, KKR bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals to restrict Rajasthan Royals to 160-8.
Sunil Narine had an off day leaking 48 runs in four overs without taking a wicket but in-form Nitish Rana put his hand up to remove openers Ajinkya Rahane (36; 19b 5x4 1x6) and D'Arcy Short (44; 43b 5x4 1x6) while Tom Curran shaved off the lower order with two scalps in two deliveries.
For the hosts, Short was the top-scorer but never got going while explosive England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler helped them reach a fighting target with a 18-ball 24 not out.
The visitors were given a good start by wrist spinners Piyush Chawla (1/18) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/23) who combined well to leak just nine runs in the first three overs.
Rahane then took on Narine hitting him for four back-to-back fours straight up.
The India Test team vice-captain swept and drove the West Indian mystery spinner with aplomb to garner 18 runs off the over. After six overs, RR were 48/0. Royals then lost two quick wickets. First, Karthik effected a brilliant diving run out to get rid of the dangerous Rahane off Nitish Rana, breaking the 54-run opening wicket stand between him and Short.
Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 160-8 in 20 overs (D’Arcy Short 44, Ajinkya Rahane 36; Nitish Rana 2/11, Tom Curran 2/19) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 in 18.5 overs (Robin Uthappa 48, Dinesh Karthik 42 not out, Sunil Narine 35, Nitish Rana 35 not out; K Gowtham 2-23).
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19/04/2018
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