Highlights, IPL 2018, Match 49: Clinical Kolkata Knight Riders thrash Rajasthan Royals by 6 wickets to stay alive

IPL 2018, HIGHLIGHTS, KKR vs RR at Eden Gardens

MATCH 49, KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS vs RAJASTHAN ROYALS: Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav starred with an impressive four-wicket spell as he set up Kolkata Knight Riders to a comfortable six-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League match on Tuesday. Kuldeep (4/20) flummoxed Rajasthan Royals batsmen with his wrist spin as the visitors were bowled out for 142 from 19 overs after being sent into bat. KKR chased down the small target with two overs to spare with Chris Lynn top-scoring with a 42-ball 45 while skipper Dinesh Karthik remaining not out on 41 off 31 deliveries. Karthik took his side home with a six as KKR reached 145 for 4 in 18 overs. 
Sunil Narine played a typical but brief explosive inning of 21 off just seven balls at the top of the innings to lay the foundation of the successful run chase.  (SCORECARD) (IPL Full Coverage)

HIGHLIGHTS, KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS vs RAJASTHAN ROYALS, IPL 2018, MATCH 49 FROM KOLKATA

23.28 IST: Kolkata Knight Riders (145/4) beat Rajasthan Royals (142-all out) by 6 wickets at Eden Gardens. Lynn 45, Karthik 41*, Stokes 3/15. SIX! There are the winning runs! DK finishes things off in style. Back of a length on middle and off, the Kolkata skipper stays back and heaves it across the line. Clears wide long on and sends it into the stands. KOLKATA WIN BY 6 WICKETS!

23.26 IST: FOUR! That's a boundary. Length ball swinging away around off, Karthik tries to drive it on the up and gets an edge down to third man. Gowtham looks to stop it with a dive but he touches the rope as he does so.

23.24 IST: FOUR! Overpitched and Dre Rus puts this away. Outside off, the big man stays leg side and crashes it through the left of the mid off fielder. No stopping that, it wins the race to the fence. KKR 134/4 in 17.2 overs.

23.23 IST: Archer back into the attack.

23.20 IST: FOUR! Deft from the skipper. Plays this really late. Waits the length ball to come to him before opening the face and running it past Jos Buttler, to the third man boundary. KKR 128/4 in 16.3 overs.

23.18 IST: FOUR! Shortish in length outside off, Russell wastes no time in going after Jaydev as he carves this over backward point. The umpire wants to check whether it bounced inside the rope or not, and replays show it did. So a boundary. 20 needed in 23. KKR 123/4 in 16.1 overs.

23.11 IST: Andre Russell walks into the middle.

23.10 IST: OUT! Stokes removes Chris Lynn for 45. Another one for Stokes, that's his third of the night. Outstanding. The off cutter outside off, shorter in length, Lynn backs away to cut it and he does, but lofts it over point. Not much distance on this, it flies towards Anureet Singh in the deep who moves inside and takes a simple catch. Kolkata Knight Riders 117/4 in 15.2 overs vs Rajasthan Royals (142-all out).

23.05 IST: FOUR! When his counterpart tried something similar, it didn't pay off. Not the case for DK though. Exquisite. He kneels down and brings out the reverse sweep, connects well and sends it across the third man boundary.

23.02 IST: FOUR! Edged and away! When it's your day, it's your day. Another other time, it would have gone straight up. Back of a length on the stumps, Lynn swings and gets an edge over Buttler's head for a boundary. 34 from 36 now.

22.58 IST: FOUR! The 100 comes up for Kolkata in style! Archer offers width outside off, Lynn fiercely cuts this square past the diving point fielder and across the fence for a boundary

22.52 IST: FOUR! A much, much, much-needed boundary for Chris Lynn. He really needed that. Slower short ball into the body from Unadkat, the Aussie swivels and pulls it along the ground through backward square leg. Was in good control of that, good shot. KKR 87/3 in 11.3 overs.

22.46 IST: FOUR! That's a really nice shot. All timing. Class from DK. He stands tall to this back of a length delivery angling away, punches it on the up past the diving cover fielder and beats the man in the deep to the fence. Superb. KKR 80/3 in 9.5 overs.

22.38 IST: Dinesh Karthik to bat next.

22.37 IST: OUT! Ish Sodhi removes Nitish Rana for 21. Rana is gone! Not as much turn then as the umpire thought. Sodhi with his first of the night. He serves a loopy ball on middle and off, it spins back in and catches Rana on the front pad who misses his defensive shot. Loud shout, it's denied. The leggie is sure though he's got his man so asks his skipper to review it. It's taken upstairs and replays show the ball to be crashing into the leg stump. Another timely strike for the away side. Kolkata Knight Riders 69/3 in 8.2 overs vs Rajasthan Royals (142-all out)

22.33 IST: SIX! Superb. Has the courage to come down the wicket. It's floated by Gowtham, Rana lofts it cleanly inside out over extra cover and gets a biggie. KKR 66/2 in 7.4 overs.

22.30 IST: FOUR! That's a superb shot! Excellent placement. Short and outside off, Rana backs away and cuts it square. There is a man at point, but he places it well wide of him to send it across the boundary line.

22.25 IST: Ish Sodhi brought on to bowl.

22.20 IST: FOUR! This time Rana finds the gap. It's on a length outside off, he has some room to work with so he makes room and cuts this aerially past a diving Samson at backward point. Away to the fence and that's a boundary.

22.17 IST: FOUR! Boundary to end the over, but Stokes produces another good over. 8 runs and a wicket off it. Fuller outside off, Lynn crashes it through the covers to find the fence.

22.15 IST: Nitish Rana walks into the middle next.

22.15 IST: OUT! Stokes removes Uthappa for 4. Second of the innings for the Big Ben! Good start for Rajasthan. Hits the deck hard and bangs it in short, Uthappa swivels and pulls, but gets a big top edge. It flies over backward square leg but it doesn't have enough distance. Tripathi out in the deep moves to his right and takes a safe catch. Kolkata Knight Riders 36/2 in 3.5 overs vs Rajasthan Royals (142-all out).

22.09 IST: FOUR! Another one from Lynn. Archer pounds the deck hard, the Aussie makes a little room for himself and ramps it over short third man's head. It's across the rope but not sure if it's a boundary or a maximum. The umpire checks it upstairs replays show it's bounced just inside. So a boundary.  KKR 32/1 in 2.5 overs

22.08 IST: SIX! Lynn gets off the mark in some style! Short of a length angling in on middle and leg, Lynn backs away and gives it everything he has. Swings and right off the meat clears backward square leg with absolute ease. IPL Live Score KKR 28/1 in 2.4 overs

Robin Uthappa walks in next. Jofra Archer comes into the bowling attack.

22.02 IST: OUT! GONE! Stokes dismisses Narine within no time. This is how Sunil has gotten out before as well, the Englishman has done his homework. Bangs it in short and cramps Narine for room. He backs away to pull across the line but gets a big top edge. It balloons towards short cover where Gowtham takes it. Lets out a huge roar, relieving a little frustration. Kolkata Knight Riders 21/1 in 1.2 overs vs Rajasthan Royals (142-all out)

Ben Stokes to bowl from the other end.

21.59 IST: FOUR! Hit with disdain! Typical response from Gowtham again. Drags his length back and Sunil is waiting for it. Rocks back and slaps it past wide mid off for a boundary.  KKR 20/0 in 0.4 overs

21.58 IST: SIX! 16 from the first 3 balls! He is on a carnage. Tossed up ball, Narine skips down the track and lifts it nonchalantly over wide long on. Clears the fielder in the deep with ease.  KKR 16/0 in 0.3 overs

21.57 IST: SIX! What a start! That has gone a long, long way back, 82 metres to be precise! Tossed up on off, Narine kneels and swings his bat to tonk it over wide long on for a massive maximum.  KKR 6/0 in 0.1 overs

21.56 IST: We are back for the chase. The dangerous pair of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine make their way to the middle. Krishnappa Gowtham to begin the proceedings with the ball. Here we go...

21.51 IST: 

21.45 IST: 

21.41 IST: OUT! That's the final nail in the coffin! Beautifully executed off cutter around off, coming in. Unadkat attempts an agricultural slog across the line but gets beaten to have his stumps pegged back. The umpire checks for the front foot no ball but it is fine. RAJASTHAN ARE BOWLED OUT FOR 142! Rajasthan Royals 142-all out in 19 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Kuldeep 4/20, Russell 2/13, Buttler 39

Anureet Singh is the last man in.

21.35 IST: OUT! Archer fails to make an impact! Off pace delivery on a shorter length around off, Jofra goes for the big pull across the line but gets a big top edge. The ball flies towards deep square leg. Shubman Gill stationed there runs in a few yards and takes a fine catch diving forward. Rajasthan Royals 135/9 in 17.3 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

21.31 IST: FOUR! What a start! Short ball on middle, Archer pulls it with authority through the backward square leg for a rocketing boundary. RR 132/8 in 16.5 overs

Jofra Archer comes out to bat. Can he make an impact?

21.29 IST: OUT! Caught behind! Prasidh Krishna joins the wicket column. Very full delivery, tailing in sharply, Sodhi tries to dig it out but seems to have got an inside edge. The ball lobs towards Karthik who takes it and appeals. The umpires talk to each other and refer it to the third umpire. The replays show that the inside edge went straight into the boots. Another one bites the dust. Rajasthan Royals 128/8 in 16.3 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

21.28 IST: Close call! Can be an LBW or a caught behind as well. It is not clear and hence, the umpires take it upstairs.

21.25 IST: 

Strategic break!

21.23 IST: FOUR! Just out of reach of the fielder! Shorter in length outside off, turning away. Unadkat camps back and goes for a hard slap but ends up getting it off the outer half. The man at backward point leaps but the ball flies over him to the fence behind. Good spell from Narine. His figures read, 4-0-29-1.  IPL Live Score RR 128/7 in 16 overs

21.21 IST: FOUR! Shot! Unadkat is playing a good knock. Similar delivery outside off, Unadkat rocks back and cuts it behind point to find the ropes. 17 from 10 for Unadkat. RR 122/7 in 15.2 overs

Narine to bowl out his quota of overs.

21.16 IST: FOUR! Great shot! Back of a length ball, Unadkat with a high backlift punches it past cover for a rocketing boundary.  IPL Live Score RR 111/7 in 14.2 overs

21.15 IST: Quite an achievement for the youngster - 

Ish Sodhi strides out to bat. Surprise that Archer hasn't come out yet.

21.12 IST: OUT! Best figures for the chinaman in this league! Take a bow, Kuldeep Yadav. He has outfoxed the batsmen from the word go with his wide array of variations. Stokes' poor run with the bat continues. Bowls a tossed up ball in the line of the stumps from around the wicket, Stokes doesn't have any space to work with. Closes his bat face too early and ends up chipping it back to Yadav. He pouches it safely, tumbles down and kisses the ball. Michael Clarke on-air mentions that there was a set plan in place. Kuldeep bowled 5-6 balls from this angle to the Englishman, cramping him up and got the reward. Rajasthan Royals 107/7 in 13.5 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Jaydev Unadkat comes out to bat.

21.08 IST: OUT! The young man strikes! Deserves this wicket. He has bowled his heart out. Ran out of plans in his second over against Buttler but has hit good areas apart from that. Bowls a sharp bouncer, trying to tuck Gowtham up. He falls into the trap as the ball gets really big on him. Takes his eyes off and ends up gloving it behind to Karthik who makes no mistake. The downslide continues for the visitors. Rajasthan Royals 103/6 in 13 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Krishnappa Gowtham is the new man in.

20.59 IST: OUT! 3-fer for Kuldeep Yadav! He is having a ball out there. That was a really poor shot selection from Binny. The chinaman bowls the wrong one well outside off. Stuart is on the move and tries to clip it through mid-wicket. A really risky thing to do and he pays the price for it. Gets beaten and Karthik behind the stumps is sharp as a hawk. Whips the bails off in a flash to catch the batsman short. This has been a turnaround of sorts. Rajasthan Royals 96/5 in 11.1 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Stuart Binny comes out to bat.

20.56 IST: 

20.55 IST: OUT! Surprise, surprise! Yes, it is hitting the stumps. Brilliant use of the DRS. Drops this one at a shorter length outside off and gets it to spin in nicely. Samson is caught in the crease as he attempts to work it across the line. Misses to get hit flush on the back pad. Karthik looks convinced and after talking with the bowler challenges the decision. Time for the review. The height is not a factor. Hawk-Eye shows three reds and Samson is a dead duck. Rajasthan have lost 4 wickets for 32 runs. Rajasthan Royals 95/4 in 10.3 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

20.54 IST: Seems that it is going to go over the stumps but Karthik after a consultation with Narine takes the DRS. Is it hitting the stumps?

20.53 IST: FOUR! Nicely executed! Slow through the air on off, allows Samson to line it up. He kneels and sweeps it hard through square leg and the ball races to the fence. RR 92/3 in 10 overs

Ben Stokes strides out to bat.

20.48 IST: OUT! Kuldeep gets the big fish! This is a really, really vital breakthrough for the hosts. He gets his second wicket and is bringing his side back into the contest. Smartly bowls a cross seam ball in line of the stumps, Buttler who gets into a position to reverse sweep it is perhaps foxed by the extra pace on it. Ends up mistiming it towards backward point where Javon Searles is safe as a house. The yellow flags are up in the crowd. A gem of a knock from Jos is cut short. After scoring five consecutive fifties, he fails to score one this time. Rajasthan Royals 85/3 in 9.2 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Strategic break taken!

20.44 IST: FOUR! There is still space for the touch game in this dynamic format! Back of a length ball outside off, Samson just makes uses the pace and runs it down. The fielder at third man is pretty fine and has no chance to cut it off. RR 85/2 in 8.4 overs

Sanju Samson is the new man in.

20.36 IST: OUT! Needless from Rahane! Throws his wicket away. Yadav slips in a googly around the leg stump, Rahane gets into position and picks up the wrong one as well. Tries the unorthodox reverse sweep but ends up missing it completely to get his stumps lit up. A mini-comeback from Kolkata. They would be aiming to chipping away at the wickets.  Rajasthan Royals 76/2 in 7.2 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Kuldeep Yadav to roll his arm over now.

20.34 IST: Buttler got surprised there! Wasn't expecting a full toss. Manages to defend it somehow. Another good over from Russell, only 6 from it.  RR 74/1 in 7 overs

20.29 IST: FOUR! Nicely played! Good way to get off the mark. Spinning into Rahane, he brings his wrists into play and beats the man at 45. Brilliant Powerplay for Rajasthan. Rajasthan Royals 68/1 in 6 overs

The skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, comes out to bat. He has the platform to launch.

20.25 IST: OUT! Gone against the run of play! A brilliant cameo comes to an end. The big West Indian makes an impact straightaway. This was badly needed for Kolkata. Russell steams in hard and bowls a well-directed short ball on middle and leg. It is at an uncomfortable height for Tripathi. Tries to pull it away half-heartedly but only manages to glove it behind. Karthik pouches it safely. 150 catches for the skipper in T20 cricket, good stuff. Rajasthan Royals 63/1 in 4.5 overs vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Andre Russell comes into the attack.

20.21 IST: FOUR! He is watching the ball like a football! Overpitched around off, Buttler with a beautiful extension of his arms caresses it past the diving mid off fielder to find the fence. RR 59/0 in 4 overs

20.18 IST: FOUR! 50 up for Rajasthan and it has come in a jiffy! Tossed up around off, Tripathi kneels and slog sweeps it over the mid on fielder to find the fence. RR 53/0 in 3.2 overs

Sunil Narine comes for a bowl.

20.15 IST: SIX! His mind is functioning like a computer at the moment! Full on middle and leg, Jos moves inside the line and scoops it over fine leg for a biggie. 24 from the over already. RR 45/0 in 2.5 overs

20.14 IST: FOUR! Inexperience is showing for Mavi! He bowled with pace in the first over and succeeded. Bowls another off pace ball on a shorter length, Buttler lines it up and heaves it through wide mid on.  RR 39/0 in 2.4 overs

20.13 IST: FOUR! Carnage! No matter where you bowl, it is travelling. Off cutter well outside off, Buttler cuts it past the point region to get the desired result. RR 35/0 in 2.3 overs

20.12 IST: SIX! Buttler special! Pitched up outside off, Buttler moves across in anticipation. The execution is even better. Paddle scoops it over the fine leg fence with a lot of finesse. RR 31/0 in 2.2 overs

20.11 IST: FOUR! 19 runs from the over! Doesn't matter how they come. This is a better ball though. Fullish and a hint of away movement. Tripathi goes for an ambitious drive down the ground but gets a thick outside edge that flies through the third man region for a boundary. RR 21/0 in 2 overs

20.09 IST: FOUR! That's the kind of momentum that Rajasthan need! Shortish ball well outside off, asking to be hit. Rahul obliges and slaps it past point for a rocketing boundary. RR 13/0 in 1.4 overs

20.08 IST: SIX! Going, going and gone! Tripathi relishes the fullish length and absolutely smashes it. In his arc around the off stump channel, he backs away and slices it over cover-point for a maximum. RR 9/0 in 1.3 overs

Prasidh Krishna to bowl from the other end.

20.06 IST: Brilliant first over from young Shivam Mavi, just 2 runs from it. What a ripper! Shortish ball on off, takes off and keeps on climbing on Rahul. He takes his eyes off the ball and is hit on the bottom hand. That will shake him up. Mavi has definitely recovered from his finger injury and is troubling the batsmen. RR 2/0 in 1 over 

20.00 IST: Dropped! What an eventful start. A tough chance goes down! Got to feel for the youngster. Bowls a good length ball on middle and leg, and gets it to shape away a touch, thereby squaring Tripathi. He has no option but to play at it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies towards Rana at first slip who dives to his right but fails to hold on. A run taken. RR 1/0 in 0.1 overs

19.57 IST: The umpires and players are out now to take the field. We are set to get rolling. Jos Buttler has a new partner in Rahul Tripathi at the top of the order. Shivam Mavi to begin the proceedings with the ball.

19.56 IST: Former Australian legend Shane Warne has rung the inauguration bell at the iconic Eden Gardens, a big moment for the crowd.

19.52 IST: 

19.45 IST: Rajasthan Royals Playing XI against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens

19.41 IST: Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens

19.38 IST: Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane, says that they are happy to bat first. Mentions it is a do-or-die game for both teams. Announces that there are three changes. Ish Sodhi, Anureet Singh and Rahul Tripathi come in.

19.35 IST: Kolkata skipper, Dinesh Karthik, says that they are gonna bowl first. Mentions that they are a good chasing team and want to follow that. States that there is one change as Piyush Chawla has a side strain and Shivam Mavi makes the team in his place.

19.32 IST: 

19.30 IST: TOSS - Kolkata Knight Riders win toss, opt to bowl against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens

19.10 IST: 

19.00 IST: All eyes will be on 'Jos the Boss' - 

18.56 IST: 

18.51 IST: 

18.45 IST: 

18.40 IST: 

18.35 IST: 

Brief Preview: A buoyant Kolkata Knight Riders will lock horns with a charged up Rajasthan Royals in a battle for survival at the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Tuesday. Their fate hanging in balance, a loss in the penultimate league round match may virtually sound the death knell for one of the two teams. It's a mad scramble for the two available playoff berths with five teams including KKR and RR, who are tied on 12 points, remaining in the hunt.

To make the competition stiffer, both the teams have picked up late momentum in the business end of the tournament. Down after back-to-back defeats, KKR bounced back with a bang, posting the fourth highest total of the IPL -- 245/6 -- to down Kings XI Punjab by 31 runs in their last match. From being on the verge of elimination, RR too have returned to the reckoning with a hat-trick of wins, thanks to the imperious form shown by Jos Buttler who was adjudged man-of-the-match in all the three victories. (Read Full Match Preview)