The match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was a game among the two teams, who are sitting at the different ends of the same spectrum. Kolkata won the toss and asked Rajasthan to bat first. Ajinkya Rahane’s miserable form seems not ending soon as he got out for a single digit score. Steve Smith and Jos Buttler build a partnership but things were going pretty slow for them. Buttler perished after scoring 37 runs off 34 balls. Smith didn’t throw his wicket and stayed unbeaten for his 73 runs in 59 balls. Rajasthan scored a below-par total of 139/3 in 20 overs.

KKR was in a hurry to chase the target down. Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine looted 65 runs in the powerplay and gave Kolkata a 91-run opening partnership. While Narine scored quick fire 47 runs, Lynn completed his 50 runs in 32 balls. Both players hit six fours and three towering sixes each. Rest was the formality for Kolkata as they won the match by eight wickets with 37 balls to spare.

Watch – Lynn and Narine got lifelines on successive balls

Hits

Steve Smith (RR)

Australian batsman came to bat at number three after Ajinkya Rahane’s early departure. Smith was batting well and stitched a good partnership with Jos Buttler worth 72 runs for the second wicket. He kept himself composed and scored timely boundaries at death overs. Smith remained not out for his 73 runs in 59 balls, where he hit seven fours and one six.

Chris Lynn (KKR)

Chasing 140, Chris Lynn came out to bat with all guns blazing. He got an early reprieve when his bails didn’t come off despite ball hitting the stumps. Lynn was scoring boundaries on every given opportunity and reached to his fifty in 31 balls. He got dismissed the very next ball but the damage was already done.

Watch – Lynn smashed a six on the glass of promotional SUV

Sunil Narine (KKR)

Mystery spinner Narine was seen off-colour in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2019. He was looking ordinary with the ball and wasn’t giving expected starts to his team. But against Rajasthan, he found his mojo back. RR batsmen were not reading his variations and found hard to score runs against him. He gave only 22 runs in his four overs without taking any wicket. He shone with the bat later in the match. Narine thrashed Rajasthan’s bowlers in all corners of the park to score a flamboyant 47 runs in just 25 balls.