The Kolkata Knight Riders produced their third consecutive fight back from a seemingly hopeless position to beat the Rajasthan Royals by 25 runs in their IPL Eliminator match at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night.
Having posted a modest 169-7, the Knight Riders appeared to be heading for defeat when the Royals reached 109-1 with six overs to go but, once again, their ‘death’ bowling was superb and the Royals limped to 144-4 to exit the tournament.
The Knight Riders will now play Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday for the right to meet Chennai Superkings in Sunday’s final.
The Royals produced a fine all round bowling and fielding display to restrict KKR to 169-7, which was a vast improvement on a calamitous start in which they quickly subsided to 24-3 in the fourth over before captain Dinesh Karthik came to the rescue with a measured 52 from 38 balls (4x4, 2x6).
The 18-year-old Shubman Gill also helped steady the ship with 28 from 17 balls before big-hitting West Indian allrounder Andre Russell ensured a competitive total with a typically aggressive, unbeaten 49 from only 25 deliveries with three fours and five sixes.
Karthik carved a Ben Laughlin delivery to cover and the Aussie seamer also collected the wicket of Javon Searles in the final over to finish with 2-35 from three overs, but the pick of the bowlers was Kiwi legspinner Ish Sodhi, whose four overs cost a miserly 15 runs.
Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane anchored the first part of the run chase with a measured 46 from 41 balls after opening partner Rahul Tripathi (20 from 13 balls) had made the early running in a first wicket partnership of 47 in just five overs.
Sanju Samson (50 from 38 balls) looked in complete control until miscuing legspinner Piyush Chawla to long on, and Heinrich Klaasen, handed the immense responsibility of batting at No 4, floundered desperately against the spinners to finish with an embarrassing 18 not out from as many deliveries.
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