Kolkata : Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Rajasthan Royals by 1 run at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in IPL 2025, keeping playoffs hopes alive.
Batting first, KKR lost Sunil Narine (11) early for 13 runs. Gurbaz (35) & skipper Ajinkya Rahane (30) notched important 56 runs partnership.
After departure of the duo on 111 runs, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44) & Andre Russell (57*) smashed 61 (33) partnership, accompanied by Rinku Singh (19*) cameo at end, as KKR finished on 206-4 (20).
Chasing 207, RR lost 2 quick wickets on 8 runs.
RR skipper Riyan Parag (95) & Yashasvi Jaiswal (34) notched important 58 runs partnership to bring them back on track.
However, consecutive 3 wickets reduced RR to 71-5 (7.5).
Parag went on to smash KKR bowlers and hammered another vital 92 runs partnership with Shimron Hetmyer (29).
After loss of both Parag and Hetmyer in quick succession on 173 (17.4), RR came under pressure.
With 22 required off last over, Shubham Dubey (25*) smashed 2 sixes and 1 boundary against Vaibhav Arora to make the match interesting.
When RR needed 3 runs off last delivery, Arora bowled a yorker that Dubey played towards long off, and his partner Jofra Archer was eventually run out trying to complete 2nd run and eventually KKR won the match by 1 run.
Russell was awarded man of the match for his heroic knock of 57* (25), including 6 sixes and 4 boundaries.
Brief Scorecard :
1st Innings :
KKR : 206-4 (20)
Andre Russell : 57* (25)
RR :
Jofra Archer : 4-30-1
2nd Innings :
RR : 205-8 (20)
Riyan Parag : 95 (45)
KKR :
Varun Chakaravarthy : 4-32-2
Result : KKR won by 1 Run.
