Dubai, September 30: Kolkata Knight Riders face a rampaging Rajasthan Royals in match number 12 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday (September 29).
Rajasthan Royals have already become the team to watch out for with exceptional match-winning performances in their first two games. The Steve Smith-led side has scored 200+ scores in both their matches. The Royals stamped their authority when they chased down the highest tournament total of 224 against the Kings XI Punjab in their last match.
The Royals will be a formidable side as they lock horns with the Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata Knight Riders. In their success, they have found two stars in Sanju Samson and Rahul Tewatia, who have outshone marquee players.
KKR have the biggest stars in Andre Russell to go along with reigning World Cup-winning English skipper Eoin Morgan, one of the best in limited-overs cricket. But both Morgan and Russell have got limited opportunities so far, having dropped down to No 5 and 6 respectively. The fixture might just finally see them bat higher up, especially the star Jamaican, who was their highest run-getter last season with 510 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 204.81.
Tonight promises to be another run feast and no target is unachievable this season. With the Royals at the other end, the Knight Riders batsmen will have to come out with all guns blazing if they are to stop the Rajasthan team's winning run. The teams batting first have won all five matches at the Dubai International Stadium in the ongoing edition.
Here Mykhel brings to you the updates from the match between RR and KKR:
Done and dusted! KKR defeat RR by 37 runs. Rajasthan Royals' unbeaten run comes to an end. Convincing win for Knight Riders over Steve Smith-led side. A lot of positives for the KKR side from this game as they secure their second win in the tournament.
SIX!! Ankit Rajpoot hits Kuldeep straight down the ground and gets a maximum.
Tom Curran hits three sixes in Sunil Narine's final over and he also brings up his fifty off 35 deliveries. RR - 126/9 in 19 overs.
SIX!! Tom Curran charges down the ground and dispatches it into the stands for a maximum off Sunil Narine.
Wicket! Kuldeep Yadav too gets a scalp. Jaidev Unadkat (9) pulls him and Nagarkoti takes another good catch in the deep. RR - 106/9 in 18 overs.
100 up for Royals in 16.4 overs.
A frustrating night for Rajasthan Royals, who have found their batting much less fluent than in the helpful conditions of Sharjah.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 30, 2020
Balls-per-six this season for RR:
Match 1 - 7.2
Match 2 - 6.5
Match 3 - 25.5#IPL2020 #RRvKKR
Kuldeep Yadav has been introduced in the 16th over.
Wicket! Jofra Archer (6) skies it high in the air and Kamlesh Nagarkoti takes a stunning running catch to end his knock. Varun gets another wicket. RR - 88/8 in 14.4 overs.
SIX!! Jofra Archer muscles it over long-off against Chakravarthy.
Caught! Shreyas Gopal (5) has to depart as Karthik takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. Narine gets a wicket after skipper went upstairs to review it. The ball had brushed past his gloves before hitting the pads. RR - 81/7 after 13.5 overs.
Rajasthan reach 73/6 after 12 overs.
Bowled! Tewatia (14) couldn't repeat his exploits from the last game. Googly from Varun Chakravarthy rattles through his stumps. RR - 66/6 in 10.5 overs. KKR bowlers are rocking!!
SIX!! Tewatia slog sweeps Nagarkoti and hits his first maximum of the innings. He needs to be in the middle to keep his team in the hunt. RR - 61/5 after 10.
50 comes up for Royals in 9 overs but they have lost 5 wickets in the run chase. Tewatia and Curran are in the middle.
Wicket! Riyan Parag (1) hits Nagarkoti at and Shubman Gill takes a sharp catch at point. Second wicket for Nagarkoti in the over. RR - 42/5 in 7.4 overs.
Wicket! Nagarkoti strikes on the first delivery as he dismisses Robin Uthappa (2). The batsman pulls him, but there wasn't much power to it. Shivam Mavi takes a simple catch in the deep. RR - Maiden IPL wicket for the young pacer. 41/4 in 7.1 overs.
WICKET! Shivam Mavi is on fire as he gets another wicket. Jos Buttler (21) gives a simple catch to Varun Chakravarthy at short thirdman. RR - 39/3 in 6.3 overs.
After powerplay, RR reach 39/2 in the run chase of 175.
After 5 overs, Royals reach 36/2. Buttler and Uthappa are present in the middle. They need to forge a solid partnership in this run chase as Smith and Samson are back in the dug out.
Wicket! Mis-hit from Sanju Samson (8) off Shivam Mavi and Sunil Narine takes a simple catch at mid-on. RR - 30/2 in 4.1 overs.
SIX!! Superb Shot from Jos Buttler as he plays a paddle-scoop against Cummins and gets a maximum. Innovation at it's best. KKR - 30/1 after 4 overs.
Four! Samson gets off the mark as he flicks Shivam Mavi's delivery towards the fine-leg boundary. It wasn't a bad delivery but Sanju made it look ridiculously easy.
Wicket! Pat Cummins strikes in the first over itself and dismisses Steve Smith for 3. Bottom edge from Smith's bat, Karthik takes a good catch behind the stumps. RR - 15/1 after 2 overs.
Not for nothing is Cummins regraded as arguably world’s best fast bowler. Cramped Smith for space with a pacy delivery and KKR have a prized wicket! #IPL
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 30, 2020
Wicket! Pat Cummins strikes in the first over itself and dismisses Steve Smith for 3. Bottom edge from Smith's bat, Karthik takes a good catch behind the stumps. RR - 15/1 after 2 overs.
Pat Cummins bowls the second over for KKR!
SIX!! Jos Buttler hits Narine over mid-wicket for a maximum. Superb shot from the English opener. RR - 12/0 after 1st over.
2nd innings! Steve Smith and Jos Buttler begin RR's run chase. Sunil Narine starts with the new ball.
A sensible knock from England Eoin Morgan: First 12 balls: 8 runs Last 11 balls: 26 runs
A sensible knock from England Eoin Morgan: First 12 balls: 8 runs Last 11 balls: 26 runs
End of the first innings! Kolkata Knight Riders post 174/6. RR need 175 to win this game. Gill - 47 & Morgan 33* top-score for KKR.