Skipper Morgan finally delivers.
In a do or die encounter RR skipper Steve Smith won the toss and asked Eoin Morgan and co to bat first. Jofra Archer proved this decision a fruitful one as he got Nitish Rana out for a duck. Shubman Gill 36(24) and Rahul Tripathi 39(34) then joined in and stitched a good partnership. But both of them got out to RR’s leg spinners. Next up Narine and Karthik both didn’t trouble the scorers as both got out for a duck. KKR were struggling at 99/5 at the end of 13th over. But the overseas duo of Morgan and Russel came in to rescue KKR. Morgan looked in sublime touch as he scored an unbeaten 68(35). Russel 25(11) and Cummins 15(11) too hit few out of the park. As KKR finished at 191/7. For RR Archer was economical but it was Tewatia 3/25 and Tyagi 2/36 who did the damage.
Cummins destroys RR’s plans of chasing.
Chasing 192 RR were looking to start positively. But Cummins had other plans as he kept striking wickets at regular intervals. Cummins and Shivam Mavi hunted in tandem as RR at the end of 4th over were struggling at 37/5. RR’s strong top and middle order was bamboozled by KKR pacers. Jos Buttler 35(22), Rahul Tewatia 21(27) and Shreyas Gopal 23(23) played some good shots in the middle overs. But that as not enough to repair the damage caused by KKR pacers. RR’s speedsters Archer, Tyagi and Aaron too couldn’t contribute much. As RR finished at 131/9 loosing the do or die game by a massive 60 runs. For KKR Cummins picked 4/34 where as Mavi finished with figures of 2/15. With this massive win KKR have moved to the 4th spot in the points table and their playoffs hopes are still alive.
KKR 191/7 Eoin Morgan 68(35), Rahul Tripathi 39(34) Rahul Tewatia 3/25, Kartik Tyagi 2/36
RR 131/9 Jos Buttler 35(22), Rahul Tewatia 31(27) Pat Cummins 4/34, Shivam Mavi 2/15
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