Russell, Rahane keep Royals at bay to clinch one-run win
Kolkata: Andre Russell roared back to form with a blistering unbeaten fifty as Kolkata Knight Riders resisted Riyan Parag’s stunning 95 to edge out Rajasthan Royals by one-run in an IPL thriller that kept the defending champions’ slim playoff hopes alive here on Sunday.
Russell, who had been under scrutiny for his indifferent form this season, smashed a 25-ball 57 as KKR smashed 85 runs in the last five overs to post a commanding 206/4.
In reply, Rajasthan found themselves in tatters at 71/5 inside eight overs and they needed 105 runs from the last 48 balls, before stand-in skipper Parag kept their hopes alive through his knock off 45 balls (6×4, 8×6).
But smart bowling changes from skipper Ajinkya Rahane ensured that Parag got out five short of his maiden IPL century, before Vaibhav Arora held his nerves under pressure in the final over, keeping RR down to 205/8.
The Royals required 22 runs off the last over but Impact Shubham Dube launched Arora for two sixes and a four to bring the equation down to three runs off the final delivery.
But a field switch by Rahane placing Rinku Singh at long-off proved decisive as his sharp throw found Arora who ran out Jofra Archer to seal the win.
KKR have moved up to sixth on the points table but still need to win the remaining three matches to have a sniff at the play-offs.
Before the tense finale, RR’s chase began in ominous fashion. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (4) departed in the first over and Kunal Singh Rathore followed for a duck, leaving Royals reeling at 8/2 in the second over.
However, Parag injected urgency with three crisp boundaries and two sixes. Yashasvi Jaiswal (34 off 21 balls) unsettled Varun Chakravarthy with back-to-back fours as Royals recovered to maintain a healthy run-rate of just under 10 in the Power Play.
Moeen broke the rhythm of RR, dismissing Jaiswal. Rinku sprinted in from long-on and completed a sharp diving catch to give KKR the breakthrough.
