Mumbai: Rajasthan Royals (RR) back to winning ways in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after defeating the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 7 runs. Jos Buttler’s century followed by Yuzvendra Chahal’s five-wicket haul ensured a 7-run victory for Rajasthan Royals.
Rajasthan Royals, made three changes to name Karun Nair, Obed McCoy and Trent Boult in playing the eleven. After a quiet start, Buttler thumped two sixes and two fours to bring up the fifty partnership was up for the opening pair. At the end of the powerplay, Rajasthan Royals were 55 with no loss.
Umesh Yadav conceded 13 runs in the 9th over after Butter notched his half-century out of 29 deliveries. Sunil Narine deceived Devdutt Padikkal to crash the ball into the stumps. Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson got the scoreboard going with two consecutive fours as Rajasthan Royals were 120-1 after 12 overs.
Buttler creamed 2 fours against Cummins and RR were 148-1 after 14 overs. Andre Russell provided a crucial break through to catch the Rajasthan Royals skipper at deep mid-wicket. Buttler reached his second hundred of the season with a magnificent six. Buttler was caught at fine-leg in the same over.
KKR bounced back with two more wickets with dismissals of Riyan Parag and Karun Nair. Hetmyer struck consecutive sixes to conclude the innings at 217/5.
Chasing a mammoth target of 218, KKR lost Sunil Narine’s wicket on the very first delivery to Shimron Hetmyer’s direct hit. Skipper Shreyas Iyer confidently started his knock with consecutive fours. Opener Aaron Finch at the other end, hit two fours against Boult in the third over. The duo brought up a fifty partnership for the second wicket and KKR were 57-1 at the end of powerplay.
Finch took on Obed McCoy by hitting a four and a six. Prasidh Krishna scalped Finch’s crucial wicket as the opener was dismissed on 58. KKR were 116-2 at the halfway mark. Nitish Rana smacked a four and six as the left-handed batter was caught by Buttler off Chahal’s bowling. Shreyas Iyer reached his half-century and was going strong at one end.
Ravi Ashwin castled Andre Russell, who was out on the first ball he faced, turning the game around. A six and a four from Shreyas Iyer brought the equation down to 51 off the final five overs. Yuzvendra Chahal brought Rajasthan Royals back in the contest with a sensational hat-trick as four wickets fell in the 17thover including the big wicket of skipper Iyer.
Umesh Yadav kept KKR’s spirit alive by dispatching two sixes and a four. KKR required 11 off 6. Obed McCoy held his nerves to sclap the final two wickets as Rajasthan Royals won the game by 7 runs.
Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 217/5 (Jos Buttler 103, Sanju Samson 38; Sunil Narine 2-21) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 210 all out (Shreyas Iyer 85, Aaron Finch 58; Yuzvendra Chahal 5-40) by 7 runs.
 beat Kolkata Knight Riders 210 (all out) (Shreyas Iyer 85, Aaron Finch 58) by 7 runs.){kind=link}