Highlights, IPL 2018 Match 15: Kolkata Knight Riders romp to easy seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals

IPL 2018, RR vs KKR Highlights

A stroll in the park for KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS and they have broken the 9-match winning streak of RAJASTHAN ROYALS at home. Very convincingly done by the visiting side. They suffered an early blow in their chase but the 69-run stand between Sunil Narine and Robin Uthappa kept them on track. Later on, skipper Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana combined to construct a match-winning partnership. Apart from Krishnappa Gowtham, there was nothing in Rajasthan's bowling as they looked completely flat. (CRICKET STREAMING - RR vs KKR)

Kolkata on Monday registered their first win over Delhi - a convincing 71-run triumph - after two successive defeats to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), respectively. KKR saw in-form Nitish Rana smash a 35-ball 59 with Andre Russell hitting a 12-ball 44 to ensure their first win. The Dinesh Karthik-led side will look to continue the good work in the 'Pink City'. So in the upcoming match, KKR need to repeat their same performance to register the third win. (SCORECARD)

HIGHLIGHTS, RAJASTHAN ROYALS vs KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS, IPL 2018, MATCH 15 FROM JAIPUR

23.27 IST: 

23.25 IST SIX! That's enormous! DK finishes it off in style. Anticipates a slower one again, gets it in his half on a fuller length and he hoists it over long on for a maximum. KOLKATA WIN BY 7 WICKETS! Kolkata Knight Riders (163/3) beat Rajasthan Royals (160/8) by 7 wickets. Uthappa 48, Karthik 42*

23.19 IST: FOUR! Karthik is doing it quickly here. Stokes serves a friendly full toss outside off, DK climbs onto it and smacks it square of the wicket on the off side for a rollicking boundary.  KKR 149/3 in 17.1 overs 

23.15 IST: 

23.13 IST: SIX! Finesse! He has timed it really, really well. Fuller ball, landed outside off, Rana stays deep in the crease and with a straight bat he lofts it cleanly over extra cover to send it over the fence. Holds the pose as well, this could be instagrammed, if he wants. Superb! That should be the game for Kolkata, unless anything silly happens.  KKR 141/3 in 16.5 overs

23.12 IST: SIX! Thank you very, very much, says DK! Unadkat changes the pace, delivers it around leg on the shorter side. Karthik moves inside the line and lifts it over backward square leg for a maximum all the way. All the pressure built has been released from this biggie. KKR 134/3 in 16.3 overs

23.08 IST: Strategic break. Kolkata are going on nicely in spite of a few quiet overs. They just need 35 off 24 balls. Rajasthan need wickets, that too in a heap, to make a match out of it from this situation.

23.07 IST: Another good over for the Royals, just 5 came off it. KKR 126/3 in 16 overs

Ben Laughlin is back into the attack.

23.01 IST: Run-out chance, missed! Rana just taps a length ball on the off side and tries to steal a run right under the bowler's nose. He is sent back and tries to dive to make it in as Jaydev has a shy at the striker's end. He misses and the replays show that Rana would have been a goner in case of a direct hit. Karthik is having a word with Nitish, trying to calm him down, maybe. KKR 119/3 in 14.3 overs

22.56 IST: FOUR! Delicate. Gowtham fires in a quicker one outside off, 102.2 kph, Karthik plays a late little cut, past the keeper and it screams away to the third man fence. 13 from the over, spoils Gowtham's figures tonight, still he ends with a brilliant performance, 4-0-23-2! KKR 110/3 in 13 overs

22.52 IST: OUT! Goatham removes Uthappa for 48. Clean catch! Brilliant stuff by Ben Stokes! The crowd surely loves it and is making a lot of noise. Flighted ball landing full on middle, Uthappa tries to smack it downtown but fails to give it the full whack of the bat. It's travelling flat to Stokes in the deep at long on who takes it over his head but then starts to lose his balance. Realizes that he will touch the rope and hence releases the ball immediately. Tosses it up and then goes on to catch it once again. He is absolutely pumped up. The umpires check it upstairs and finds it to be a neat catch. Robin departs! Kolkata Knight Riders 102/3 in 12.3 overs vs Rajasthan Royals (160/8)

22.51 IST: FOUR! Easy pickings! This one is sliding down the leg side, Rana eases it fine off his pads and it speeds away to the fence in no time.

22.46 IST: FOUR! Glorious shot! Not an overpitched delivery, it's outside off, Rana strides forward and creams his cover drive through the gap. The fielder in the deep runs across to his left but has no chance. That's timed to perfection. KKR 97/2 in 12 overs

22.44 IST: Uthappa survives stumping appeal. KKR 90/2 in 11 overs

22.39 IST: FOUR! Not in control but a misfield earns him a boundary. Stokes shakes his head in disappointment. Too full in length around off, Robin slices his attempted square drive over backward point. Never looks comfortable while playing square of the wicket. It lobs over the infield, Unadkat rushes across to his right from third man, slides but fails to stop it. Has gone for a boundary. KKR 87/2 in 10 overs

22.36 IST: SIX! That's sent into orbit. Full floated ball dropping on middle, Uthappa kneels and smokes his slog sweep over mid-wicket for a biggie. Great connection on that occasion. That just kept sailing into the stands.  KKR 77/2 in 9 overs

Nitish Rana is the new man to the crease.

22.34 IST: OUT! Narine is run out! Not cleanly done by Buttler but that will do. A flighted ball landing on middle, Narine tries to unfurl a fancy reverse sweep but fails to connect. It goes off his pads to short third man and he blindly runs down the track in search of a run. Uthappa sends him back and in the meanwhile, Unadkat sends in a flat throw to the keeper. Buttler collects it and breaks the stumps with the forearm. He has the ball in his gloves though. It's referred upstairs and the replays show that Narine is well short. A big breakthrough for Rajasthan as Narine type of a batsman who has nothing to lose prove to be very dangerous. Kolkata Knight Riders 70/2 in 8.4 overs vs Rajasthan Royals (160/8)

22.28 IST: FOUR! A streaky one! Stokes steams in from around the wicket and serves it wide outside off. Narine hops back to swing his bat and it flies off the outside edge to third man for a boundary.  KKR 67/1 in 7.3 overs

Ben Stokes to bowl now.

22.26 IST: Turning the other way, from outside off, Narine lifts it over extra cover and Stokes rushes across to his right from long off to stop the ball. Two taken to end the over. 9 from it. KKR 62/1 in 7 overs  

22.24 IST: SIX! Don't even look there Shreyas! You have committed the crime of bowling short and now Robin has made you suffer. He immediately goes deep inside the crease to power it all the way over mid-wicket for a maximum.  KKR 59/1 in 6.3 overs

Strategic break. Rajasthan have failed to build on an early wicket and are under the pump at the moment. Runs are flowing thick and fast and they need wickets to return in the match.

22.21 IST: 

22.20 IST: SIX! Into the stand! Narine has absolutely smoked it. Laughlin for some reason best known to him bowls a short delivery right in Narine's half. The southpaw shows no mercy and bludgeons it over wide long off. 50 up for Kolkata, a superb beginning for them after losing Lynn early. KKR 53/1 in 6 overs

22.17 IST: FOUR! Laughlin starts on a false note. A gentle delivery, short and angling in, Uthappa turns inside the crease and hammers it past short fine leg for a boundary.  KKR 44/1 in 5.1 overs

Ben Laughlin into the attack now.

22.16 IST: FOUR! Smartly played. He stays back again to a shortish ball outside off, uses the pace of the bowler and runs it fine past the diving keeper for a boundary at third man.  KKR 39/1 in 4.5 overs

22.15 IST: FOUR! That's admonished. Rahane played a similar shot earlier in the game. He used his feet but not Robin. Stand and deliver stuff from him. Holds his ground to a short ball in his half and pummels it straight down the ground. KKR 35/1 in 4.4 overs

22.14 IST: FOUR! Superb hit! He just loves playing on the leg side. A touch short and around leg, Uthappa just picks it up and smashes it over mid-wicket for a boundary. That nearly went all the way. Unadkat bowling to his strength ain't a good idea, should look to make him play on the off side. We have often seen Robin hesitant to play square of the wicket on the off side.  KKR 31/1 in 4.2 overs

22.12 IST: 

22.11 IST: FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Narine dictating terms now. Change in the field every ball is not helping Rahane. He needs to give one field to his bowler and tell him to concentrate on one line. This one is short and around the middle, Narine drags it out with a horizontal bat and sends it rocketing to the deep mid-wicket fence. No chance for the fielder in the deep.  KKR 27/1 in 3.5 overs

22.10 IST: FOUR! Boom! Narine will be feeling a lot better about himself now. Kulkarni feeds him room outside off, Sunil just stays inside the crease and muscles it through covers for yet another boundary.  KKR 23/1 in 3.4 overs

22.09 IST: FOUR! Up and over! That's one way of finding the fence. If you cannot pierce the gap, go aerial over the infield. Narine does exactly that. He remains on the back leg to a short ball and pummels it over cover-point.  KKR 19/1 in 3.3 overs

22.07 IST: 

22.05 IST: FOUR! Shot! He was in terrific form in the last match and is showing the same here also. Latches onto a short ball and punches it sweetly through extra cover.  KKR 13/1 in 2.1 overs

22.02 IST: EDGY FOUR! Narine got out playing a similar shot in the last game, that time Pant parried it to the first slip fielder. Here, Buttler failed to do the same. Short and on middle and off, Narine makes room to crack it through the line but gets a thick outside edge behind. Buttler jumps, stretches his one hand out but it brushes his glove and screams to the fence at third man. KKR 7/1 in 1.4 overs

Who will bowl from this end? Unlike Kolkata, Rajasthan are using the combination of spin and pace. Dhawal Kulkarni to run in...

21.59 IST:  A little short and on off, Uthappa goes deep inside the crease and steers it through the line. Finds the point fielder. Lovely over, a run and a big wicket of Lynn from it. KKR 1/1 in 1 over

Robin Uthappa is in next at number 3.

21.56 IST: OUT! Gowtham removes Chris Lynn for nought. Kolkata Knight Riders 1/1 in 0.3 overs vs Rajasthan Royals (160/8)

21.54 IST: Krishnappa Gowtham to begin with the ball. Here we go again...

21.53 IST: Time for the run chase. No flirting with the opening pair by Kolkata. Sunil Narine it is with the Australian, Chris Lynn. In the last game, the West Indian didn't do much damage with the bat but will try to compensate today. Didn't have a good outing with the ball, so would be itching to take out his frustrations with the bat.

21.47 IST: 

21.45 IST:

 

21.41 IST: A dot to finish an over which was quite a big one. Big one in terms of balls but not in terms of runs, just 9 came off it. Slanted a bit wide, another slower one at 109.5 kph, Buttler gets down to play the mighty slog but fails to get any bat on it. RAJASTHAN MANAGE 160/8 ON THE BOARD!

21.37 IST: OUT! Fuller delivery a bit wider outside off, Buttler goes fishing after it. He knocks one down to long off and wants two. Kulkarni has no option but to run. The throw comes from the deep to the bowler who fails to collect in the first attempt but still manages to do so in the second. It's referred upstairs and replays find DK is well short.

21.32 IST: FOUR! Buttler makes the most of the juicy full toss. Backs away and thrashes it over Curran's head to end the penultimate over with a boundary. 150 up for Rajasthan, is it enough? RR 151/7 in 19 overs 

Dhawal Kulkarni is the new man in. And he will face the hat-trick ball.

21.26 IST: OUT! Bowled 'em! Two-in-two for Tom Curran! Takes out Gowtham with the slower one and now beats Gopal for pace. So the two Gs depart. On a length and angling in at 137.9 kph, Gopal tries to keep it out sans any feet movement and that's enough for the white object to sneak through and rip the off pole apart.   Rajasthan Royals 141/7 in 18.2 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

21.24 IST: OUT! Rajasthan are falling apart as Curran comes into the attack and opens his account, too! Bowls the back of the hand slower delivery, execute it well. Gowtham looks to slash it through the line but ends up slicing it in the air towards backward point for Shivam Mavi to take a dolly  Rajasthan Royals 141/6 in 18.1 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

21.23 IST: FOUR! Ends the bad day with the ball for Narine with a boundary. 48 in 4, now that's something you don't see often from Narine. This time Buttler makes space on the off side and thwacks it towards wide long off for a boundary.  RR 141/5 in 18 overs

21.21 IST: SIX! Just clears the fielder, in fact it's a dropped catch technically, by Gill. Narine flicks in a carrom ball, around off and it's curving away a bit, Gowtham gets down the track and lofts it over extra cover. Not the best of connections and Gilly moves across to his left to attempt for the catch. He stretches his hand out but it brushes it and falls beyond the rope. RR 134/5 in 17.3 overs

Krishnappa Gowtham is the new man in.

21.16 IST: OUT! Chawla does Stokes in with a googly! Nicely slides it across as he anticipates Stokes to give the charge. The big Ben does so and ends up slicing it high up in the air over extra cover. Nitish Rana backtracks from that position, keeps his eyes on the ball and stretches it at the right time to take a well-judged catch. Well bowled, Piyush. This blow will surely hamper the hosts from getting a big total. Rajasthan Royals 122/5 in 16.1 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

21.15 IST: 

Piyush Chawla is back into the attack.

21.13 IST: SIX! Stokes with a hammering blow! Sees the flight and decides to take it on. Gets down on one knee and smites it over long on for a maximum. RR 121/4 in 15.5 overs

Jos Buttler joins his English team-mate in the middle.

21.09 IST: 

21.08 IST: OUT! Chipped... oh boy, that's an excellent take from Andre Russell! What a catch, you just can't keep him out of the game. He will always come up with something special. Tossed up on the stumps, turning in a bit, Rahul makes room and looks to lift it inside out over extra cover. He makes a good connection but there is Dre Russ stationed at short extra cover who times his leap to perfection and plucks it out and then goes bam on the ground. Made it look so easy, but it wasn't by any means. Another timely breakthrough for Kolkata. Rajasthan Royals 106/4 in 14 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

21.07 IST: FOUR! Hit with disdain! Kuldeep Yadav drops it short on middle, Rahul is quick to go back and pull it. Finds the gap between long on and mid-wicket and picks up a boundary to his name. RR 106/3 in 13.4 overs

21.02 IST: 

21.01 IST: Stokes works this slider through mid-wicket and gets to the other end. 4 runs and a wicket off it, fruitful one for Kolkata. RR 99/3 in 13 overs

Ben Stokes is the new man in.

20.59 IST: OUT! The man with the golden arm strikes! Nitish Rana is making it a habit to provide breakthroughs when the opposition is taking the game away. Bowls a slider, at 90.6 kph, it skids off the surface and cramps Short for room. D'Arcy goes back to pull but is done in by the pace. The ball clatters the furniture behind and Rana lets out a huge roar. The southpaw departs for 44 from 43 balls. Rajasthan Royals 98/3 in 12.5 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

20.56 IST: Short backs away to another short ball and punches it wide of long off for two. Good over for the hosts. RR 95/2 in 12 overs

20.55 IST: FOUR! Deft! After showing his power on the previous ball he decides to show his deftness. Waits on the back foot for a short of a length delivery and steers it down to third man for back-to-back boundaries. Moves into the 40s with that. RR 93/2 in 11.5 overs

20.54 IST: SIX! That's off the screws! Back of a length delivery on middle, D'Arcy Short backs away and picks the bones out of that one as he powers it over deep square leg fence for a maximum. Wow, that was some hit! RR 89/2 in 11.4 overs

20.51 IST: FOUR! Narine isn't looking at his best tonight! Once again bowls a half-tracker and is duly punished! Tripathi camps deep in the crease and pulls it off the meat through mid-wicket. Gone for 28 in the two overs, Sunil Narine! RR 81/2 in 11 overs

20.49 IST: FOUR! Boom! Narine once again drops it short on middle, Short stands back and pummels it with a short-arm jab. One-bounce and over the deep square leg fence. He's getting a move on now. RR 76/2 in 10.2 overs

 

20.48 IST: FOUR! Easily done! Short needs many more of these. Gets a delivery on the pads and he just helps it off his pads behind square on the leg side to end the 10th over with a boundary. 71/2 at the halfway stage! RR 71/2 in 10 overs

Tom Curran is introduced into the attack.

20.41 IST: This could have been touch and go! Short flicks it towards short mid-wicket and wants a single. Tripathi isn't too keen and sends him back. Russell, in the meanwhile, has a shy at the striker's end but misses. Had that hit, D'Arcy could have been a goner. 4 runs and a wicket from the over. RR 62/2 in 9 overs

20.40 IST: 

Rahul Tripathi is the next man in. So they have decided to change the batting order. They have promoted the young man above Stokes.

20.39 IST: OUT! In the air... gone! Shivam Mavi gets the man in red-hot form! It's dropped on a back of a length, once again it skids off the surface and it's angled in on middle and leg. Sanju looks to play the short-arm pull but doesn't make clean contact. He knew as soon as he hit that he is a goner here. The ball goes towards deep square leg where Kuldeep Yadav takes an easy catch. So no Samson show tonight. Rajasthan Royals 62/1 in 8.4 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

20.38 IST: FOUR! That's called using the pace of the bowler, says Clarke on air! On a back of a length, at some good pace, Samson just waits for it and at the right moment opens the bat face to run it down behind point for a boundary. Uthappa at third man had no chance to cut it off. RR 62/1 in 8.3 overs

20.36 IST: A shout for an LBW! Tossed up around leg, Samson looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. Yadav appeals but it's turned down by the umpire. Maybe, it was pitching outside leg. Just 3 singles from the over. RR 58/1 in 8 overs

Sanju Samson, the man in form walks in next.

20.31 IST: OUT! Run out! Sensation work from Karthik! Really top notch! He provides his side with a much-needed breakthrough. Rana sees Rahane giving the charge and hence he fires it around leg, Ajinkya can't put it away as the ball goes off the pads towards the left of the keeper. Rahane is too fat down the track as and before he could turn and come back in, Dinesh takes his one glove off, pounces on the ball and back-flicks it onto the stumps. They don't even go upstairs as the hosts' skipper is well short. Once again Rahane falls into the 30s, something that we have seen quite often. Rajasthan Royals 54/1 in 6.5 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

20.28 IST: FOUR! From around the wicket comes Rana! Drifting down leg, all Short had to do as to get some bat on it. He gets enough to send it across the fine leg fence to raise the 50 up for his side. This is a good start, an ideal one for them. RR 53/0 in 6.2 overs

20.27 IST: Nitish Rana to bowl now. This is interesting tactic from Karthik. It paid off the last time when he asked Rana to roll his arm over in a game against Bangalore where he removed de Villiers and Kohli of successive balls. Can he provide a breakthrough again?

20.25 IST: 

First strategic break of the match is signalled!

20.24 IST: Rahane crouches low a quicker delivery, at 93 kph, it's dabbed towards backward point for a single. 9/0 in 3 overs to 48/0 in the Powerplay, good recovering from Rajasthan!

20.21 IST: FOUR! Shot! All timing! Flighted ball, served outside off, Rahane leans ahead and with sheer timing he drives it along the ground through extra cover for a boundary. Pierced the gap to perfection! RR 45/0 in 5.2 overs

Chawla to bowl the final over of the Powerplay.

20.19 IST: FOUR! Short joining in the fun now! Stand and deliver stuff, this! Fuller delivery, in the arc, Short stands put and lifts it cleanly over mid off for a boundary, his first of the innings. RR 40/0 in 5 overs

20.17 IST: SIX! Ohhh! That's a classic hit from Rahane! Back of a length delivery on middle and off, at 138.3 kph, Rahane jumps down the track and smokes it flat-bat over the bowler's head to pick the first biggie of the match. He has found his mojo back and is up and running quickly. RR 34/0 in 4.3 overs 

20.15 IST: 

20.14 IST: FOUR! Pressure on Narine! He has conceded 16 off the over already with two balls to go. The crowd finds its voice back. Dropped short again, Rahane is quick to pick it up as he rocks back and flays it between cover and point for the fourth boundary on the trot. What's coming next? RR 25/0 in 3.4 overs

20.13 IST: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Good use of the feet again, Jinx! Tossed up outside off, Rahane dances down the track and belts it cleanly past Russell at mid-off for a boundary. RR 21/0 in 3.3 overs

20.11 IST: FOUR! And there's the first boundary of the night! Much-needed one after three good overs from Kolkata! Narine comes into the attack and serves it around the middle, Rahane gets down the track and paddles it over backward square leg for a boundary. RR 13/0 in 3.1 overs

20.07 IST: Flatter through the air outside off, punched off the back foot but straight to the man at extra cover. Another tidy over, just four from it. RR 7/0 in 2 overs

Spin from both the ends. It will be Kuldeep Yadav to have a go from the other end.

20.03 IST: Quicker through the air and served outside off, Ajinkya goes back to cut but this one skids through and stays a touch low as well. The ball sneaks under his bat and it's a good take from the keeper behind. Brilliant first over from Chawla. RR 3/0 in 1 over

20.01 IST: 

19.59 IST: Piyush Chawla to open the attack. Remember, he removed Jason Roy in the very first over in their last game. Will he pick up an early wicket tonight? Let's play....

19.57 IST: Now come the two openers - Ajinkya Rahane and D'Arcy Short. Watch out for the latter, who was in tremendous form in the Australian T20 League, is yet to make a statement. Could be his night, I reckon.

19.56 IST: We are all set for the action to begin. The players and umpires are out in the middle and spreading to take their positions. 

19.52 IST: 

19.51 IST: 

19.42 IST: Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Ajinkya Rahane (C), D Arcy Short, Sanju Samson(w), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Rahul Tripathi, Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, Ben Laughlin

19.40 IST: Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (wk/C), Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Tom Curran, Piyush Chawla, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav

19.38 IST: Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane says even he wanted to bowl first but since the wicket looks good so he doesn't mind to put runs on the board. Reckons it's a different experience to captain a side which has players from all over the world.

19.35 IST: Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik says they will bowl first. Adds the wicket looks good and would be looking to chase it down later. Informs the pitch is made of the black soil and he and Rahane have played a lot on such surfaces. States it's quite dark underneath to bind the surface together. Opines he's enjoying his role as the skipper of Kolkata but there are a few challenges one being getting the right playing XI that comes as the huge one.

19.32 IST: 

19.30 IST: TOSS -  Kolkata Knight Riders win toss, opt to bowl against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.

19.25 IST: Pitch report - The Aussie World Cup winning captain of 2015, Michael Clarke says that it looks a beautiful surface. Adds that under the tinge of grass, it's dry and will help the spinners. Further says that the pitch is hard in nature and hence there will even bounce. Feels that it will be good for stroke making.

19.15 IST: Andre Russell is in ominous touch in the ongoing edition of IPL 2018 - 

19.04 IST: 

18.51 IST: 

18.40 IST: 

18.30 IST: 

Brief Preview: The in-form Rajasthan Royals will be confident of a third consecutive victory when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday. Royals have turned it around with back-to-back wins after Sunrisers thrashed them in their opener. They pipped Delhi Daredevils by 10 runs in a rain-hit encounter and then travelled away to post a convincing 19-run victory over star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The undisputed star of the game was Sanju Samson who hit a blistering an unbeaten 92 off 45-balls and Royals would expect him to fire again. They were able to iron out few of their flaws. Royals' batting clicked with Samson leading the charge and skipper Ajinkya Rahane too making a useful contribution. Their bowling too could sustain the pressure of onslaught by big hitters like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. (Read Full Match Preview)