In the 15th game of IPL 2018, the visiting team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat the hosts Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur) on Wednesday night. The hosts Rajasthan managed to put 160/8 on the board at the end of 20 overs while KKR successfully chased down the target in 18.5 overs after losing three wickets only.
After winning the toss, KKR decided to field first. Rajasthan had a good opening partnership as the team was 48/0 at the end of the powerplay. Openers Ajinkya Rahane and D’Arcy Short put 54-run partnership for the first wicket. However, the hosts’ batsmen struggle after losing the first wicket. Skipper Rahane scored 36 runs off 19 balls while D’Arcy finally showed a good performance with the bat as he was the highest scorer in that innings with 44 runs off 43 balls.
Later, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler added some important runs as he was the only other batsman to reach the 20-run mark in that innings as he was not out for 24 runs off 18 balls. At the end of 20 overs, RR managed to score 160/8.
Among the KKR bowlers, Nitish Rana (2/11) and Tom Curran (2/19) claimed two wickets each while Piyush Chawla (1/18), Kuldeep Yadav (1/23) and Shivam Mani (1/40) got one wicket each.
In reply, KKR opener Chris Lynn lost his wicket quickly without opening his account but another opener Sunil Narine and no.3 batsman Robin Uthappa provided a good 69-run partnership for the second wicket that set the game for the visiting team.
While Narine scored 35 off 25 balls, Uthappa extended his innings little bit as he scored 48 off 36 balls. Later, Nitish Rana and skipper Dinesh Karthik calmly finished the game without any panic. Rana was not out on 35 off 27 balls and captain Karthik remained unbeaten on 42 off 23 balls. KKR chased down the target successfully in 18.5 overs after losing only three wickets as they won by 7 wickets with 7 balls to spare.
Among the hosts’ bowlers, Krishnappa Gowtham (2/23) was the only bowler to pick at least one wicket.
Now, we will look at some Twitter reactions of the match:
When Nitish Rana comes to bowl #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/Kpgyhh9x7u
— Right Arm Over (@RightArmOver_) April 18, 2018
Started today in 2008. Nobody would have guessed what the #IPL would grow into.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 18, 2018
One More Win.#KKRvsRR #KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/Rix6UfGXV2
— Provook (@topoprovo) April 18, 2018
Jaruri nahi ki har kimti cheez ki kaam ki ho #BenStokes & #Unadkat #KKRvsRR
— Vishnu Dhanuka (चाई वाला) (@VishnuDhanuka) April 18, 2018
Karthik and Rana in total control, KKR simply too good for Rajasthan defending modest target
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2018
Not a regular spinner,
Yet scalped Big Guns like- Kohli, DeVilliers, Rahane, D'arcy Short.Smart Use of Nitish Rana's bowling #KorboLorboJeetbo #HallaBol#RRvKKR #IPL2018 #IPL18 @StarSportsIndia #IPL
— Tanmay P (@beingparanjape) April 18, 2018
த்தா பதிமூணு தோனிக்கு சமம் #dk #KKRvsRR pic.twitter.com/NPzfpOXlrc
— புல்லட்ஜாக்கி™ (@BulletJackie) April 18, 2018
Narine 48 runs in 4 overs and 0 wickets.#RRvKKR pic.twitter.com/9XHbnKVoGz
— SHAH RUKH KHAN. (@iamsrk_brk) April 18, 2018
Some catches taken this season — like Russell now to dismiss Trupathi — have been out of this world!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2018
Galat harkat mat kar 😂 😂@DineshKarthik @StarSportsIndia@KKRiders #KKRHaiTaiyaar #KKRvsRR #RRvsKKR @IPL #BESTvsBEST #IPL
— Rehan (@Rehan_racer) April 18, 2018
Watching ipl is not fun unless you watch it with your dad who continuously gives commentary on how the batsman should have batted. #KKRvsRR #IPL2018
— Rimma Quadros (@RimmaQ) April 18, 2018
Talk about text book shot this shot has been just included in the textbook by Nitish Rana #KKRvsRR
— Aman⏺️ (@Mr_Twts) April 18, 2018
Narine making up with bat for his failure with ball…thorn in the flesh for opponents
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2018
Not much oace in the pitch for batsmen to play freely, but Rajasthan need around 160 to be competitive methinks
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2018
Always rated Robin Uthappa highly in the shortest format…perhaps, should’ve played for India a little more in T20s. #RRvKKR #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 18, 2018
Been such a horror day for Rajasthan with their tactics. They have been comfortably outplayed. Some real silly cricket
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 18, 2018
Aj ka gyan … .
Rajat Bhatiya – Uthapa jab six marte hai to ap us ball pe baith kar delhi ja sakte ho 🙄🙄#KKRvsRR #KkrHaiTaiyaar #IPL2018
— Sam Khan (@lovesamkhan) April 18, 2018
Fraudkat showing why he was bought for 11 crores. Maintaining an economy of 11 in almost every game. #RRvsKKR #IPL2018
— SwingAndSeam (@swing_seam) April 18, 2018
