A clinical performance by Kolkata Knight Riders saw them register a comprehensive 25-run win over Rajasthan Royals in the eliminator of the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens. The victory propelled the Knights to a third consecutive victory over the same opposition, having beaten them twice already in the season.
Watch the match highlights Here:
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Having won the toss, RR had elected to field first in this high voltage clash. The ploy proved to pay massive dividends as the Royals managed to scalp four quick wickets in the first eight overs of the innings.
However, a remarkable knock from Dinesh Karthik in the middle order and contribution from Shubman Gill helped KKR consolidate the innings.
Highlights of Dinesh Karthik’s crucial knock:
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The duo stitched a crucial 55 runs partnership for the fifth wicket, with Gill being the aggressor and scoring 28 off 17 balls with three boundaries and one colossal hit over the fence.
Watch Shubman Gill’s massive six Here:
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The 21-year-old was dismissed by Jofra Archer as he tried to take the attack to the opposition and increase the scoring rate in the second ball of the 15th over.
With 34 deliveries remaining, the stage was set for Andre Russell to be his destructive best in the final overs of the innings. The Jamaican started his innings steadily by taking the ones and twos before launching an attack in the last three overs of the innings.
Russell had been in sublime form in the tournament and smashed five sixes and three boundaries in his unbeaten knock of 49 off 25 deliveries in this knockout game.
Highlights of Andre Russell’s blistering knock:
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Along with skipper Dinesh Karthik's crucial half-century (52) and blitz from Russell, the Knight Riders finished the innings at 169 runs for the loss of seven wickets.
A place in the semi-finals of the tournament at stake and the pressure of the chasing 170 runs at a packed Eden Gardens, Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi marched out for the second innings.
Along with Sanju Samson, the duo laid a solid foundation for the run chase by scoring 109 runs in the 14 overs. Despite being under pressure, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav crippled the opposition with their spell of spin bowling in the back end of the innings.
While Chawla picked up two vital wickets of Tripathi and Samson, the chinaman was instrumental in picking up Rahane for 46 courtesy of a caught and bowled to restrict the scoring rate.
Watch Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal here:
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Their economic spell of 2 for 24 and 1 for 18 enabled the boys in Purple and Gold to secure their place in Qualifier 2 of the tournament by 25 runs.
