KKR captain Dinesh Karthik’s career-best knock of 97 was not enough to ward off RR who picked up their fourth win of the season to keep their hopes of qualifying to the playoffs alive.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, RR skipper Steve Smith named two changes. Oshane Thomas was brought in for his maiden appearance while Dhawal Kulkarni was left out to make way for Varun Aaron.
A shuffle in the top order which saw Shubhman Gill open alongside Chris Lynn did not help KKR’s fortune as the new ball pace attack ran through the top order. The ever-reliable Andre Russell failed to capitalise on the two chances he availed through dropped catches. The all-rounder was eventually caught off the bowling of Thomas.
Immersed in an elixir of criticism, Dinesh Karthik managed to stand out with a sensational unbeaten knock of 97 which propelled the side to a total of 175 in their allotted 20 overs.
Sanju Samson and Ajinkya Rahane got the visitors off a blazing start before the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla wrecked havoc. Ben Stokes’ disappointing IPL culminated with a struggling knock.
All seemed down and out for the inaugural IPL champions until a well-executed innings by the 17-year-old Riyan Parag brought them back into the game. Parag was dismissed in an unfortunate manner in the penultimate over. The youngster became this season’s first hit-wicket casualty leaving 9 runs to be scaled in the last over.
Jofra Archer bid farewell in the most extraordinary fashion by sealing the game in just 2 balls. The all-rounder hit a four and a six off Prasidh Krishna to seal the game for RR.
Brief Scorecard:
KKR 175-6 (20 overs) (D.Karthik 97*; V.Aaron 2-20)
RR 177-7 (19.2 overs) (R.Parag 47; P.Chawla 3-20)
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