- Kolkata Knight Riders Defeated Rajasthan Royals
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has produced a clinical performance to thrash a spineless Rajasthan Royals (RR) with eight wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Eden Gardens here on Sunday.
Pleasure Filled cheered by around 45,000 spectators in the majestic Eden Gardens, extension Knights of the Royals to a paltry 81 and reached the target with 6.1 overs to spare without much hassle.
With a vintage Laxmipathy Balaji (3 / 15) on your screen, threw the Knight Riders out of Rajasthan for a paltry 81 runs, the lowest total going IPL.Kolkata was also helped by a listless performance by the Rajasthan batsmen who played a bit irresponsible shots in a quiet Eden pitch to hang out in 15.2 overs.
Balaji was excellent support backed by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan (2 / 21) and some sharp work in the area, which accounted for two run outs
Skipper Gautam Gambhir sent Shaun Tait to the point fence to KKR for 85 / 2 in 13.5 overs, and strengthen their respect with six from four games.Needing to score on a simple request to 4.1, lost their home-opener Jacques Kallis star (0) of the second ball. Veteran top-edged Tait and Ross Taylor ran in from square leg to take the catch close to the pressure.
For the Knight Riders this was their third consecutive win – back-to-back against Rajasthan – after losing the first match to Chennai Super Kings to climb to the top of the points table.Chasing a modest 81, Skipper Gambhir (35 not out , 35 balls, 3x4s) played a sensible innings, while Manoj Tiwary (30 not out from 26 balls, 4×4, 1×6) shown aggression from the beginning to help Knight Riders register thumping victory.
Pacer Laxmipathy Balaji (3-15) and the Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan 2-21) was the most successful bowlers.Then Shakib claimed two wickets in successive deliveries, while Lee gave finish claiming the last wicket in the 16th over to wrap up the Rajasthan innings in the 100-run mark.
From 78 to six in 13.1 overs, Rajasthan were eventually skittled out for 81 in 15.2 overs.
