|| Indian Correspondent ||

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered their second successive win against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2020 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (September 30) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to field first. Their decision was certainly for the best as they have some quality bowlers, including Jofra Archer who is known for his deadly pace and to prove it right he conceded only 1 run in the first over. However, it was the KKR opener Shubman Gill who smashed over long-on for the first six of the evening.

Later, Sunil Narine too joined him as he hit a four and a six off Jaydev Unadkat before getting dismissed for 15 off 14 and KKR managed to put up 42 runs within the powerplay. After that, both Shubman and Nitish Rana slowly started to build the partnership. While Rana took on Riyan Parag for a maximum in the 8th over, Gill hit two boundaries off Shreyas Gopal in the next.

However, that didn’t stay long as Rana fell for 22 and KKR posted 82 runs in their first 10 overs. Soon, Gill too joined him after scoring another crucial knock of 47. And, the responsibility fell upon the middle orders while Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik were in the middle. Russell being the big-hitter, smacked Shreyas Gopal over cow corner and over deep mid-wicket for two sixes in the 13th over.

While Karthik once again failed to contribute, Eoin Morgan joined Russell in the middle. However, Russell fell for 24 and in front of the economical bowling, KKR managed only 127 runs in 16 overs. Meanwhile, Archer gave away a four and a six in the 18th over before Morgan took on Tom Curran for another six in the next. He also hit Curran for a maximum over deep mid-wicket and helped his side put up a total of 174 in their 20 overs.

While chasing, it looked easy for a team like Rajasthan who have already shown their class of chasing big scores before. Their in-form openers Jos Buttler and Steve Smith started well where Buttler smashed a six off Sunil Narine over wide long-on in the very first over.

However, it was Pat Cummins who provided with the first breakthrough for KKR. Smith got an inside edge off Cunmmins which successfully landed in Dinesh Karthik’s hand and Smith fell for mere 3. Although, they shouldn’t be worried as they had Sanju Samson in the middle who has already scored two consecutive fifties.

He once again showed his class as he hit a four off Shivam Mavi after coming to bat but Mavi had the last laugh as Samson went to pull but mistimed Narine took an easy catch at mid-wicket. Mavi once again returned in the 7th over and dismissed Buttler for 21 as RR managed to put up 41 for after 7 overs.

While Mavi was brilliant with the ball within the powerplay, it was his U-19 teammate Kamlesh Nagarkoti who simply amazing after that. He started with the dismissal of Robin Uthappa for mere 2. He struck twice in the 4th ball of the over when Riyan Parag hit hard but Shubman Gill took a stunner and sent him in for just 1.