The match between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR) turned out to be a nail-biter. The game went down to the final over and with RR requiring nine runs required off it, Jofra Archer hit a four and a six off Prasidh Krishna to help the Royals win the encounter by three wickets. It was RR’s first win against KKR since 2008 even as the hosts are almost knocked out from this edition’s IPL.
During the toss, the KKR skipper, Dinesh Karthik said that they have made two changes in their squad as Harry Gurney and KC Cariappa made way for Carlos Brathwaite and Prasidh Krishna. On the other hand, RR also made a couple of changes as Ashton Turner and Dhawal Kulkarni made way for Oshane Thomas and Varun Aaron.
WATCH – Varun Aaron Cleans Up Shubman Gill With A Banana Swing
Surprisingly, Shubman Gill came out to open the innings with Lynn, despite Sunil Narine being in the squad. Lynn was dismissed by Aaron in the very first over, then Nitish Rana started building a partnership with Gill, but they only managed to score just 31 runs for the second wicket before the latter getting out in the 5th over by the same bowler. Even, Rana got out in the 9th over and Narine came out to bat at no.5.
Narine and Karthik started making a partnership for the fourth wicket as they amassed 38 runs and 25 of them came in the 11th over of Shreyas Gopal, but Narine got run-out in the next over. Andre Russell came out to bat next, but he failed to deliver as he was dismissed by Thomas in the 17th over.
WATCH – Dinesh Karthik Went For A Carnage In The Final Over
However, Karthik kept on smashing the RR bowlers from one end. His real carnage came in the final over of Jaydev Unadkat when he smashed him for 18 runs with the help of two sixes and a four and helped KKR to reach the total of 175/6 in their quota of 20 overs.
During the chase, RR openers, Ajinkya Rahane, and Sanju Samson started off well as they scored 53 runs in the first five overs itself. But the visitors lost the plot after that as they lost three wickets of Rahane, Samson, and Smith in next three overs of Narine and Piyush Chawla. However, Ben Stokes and Riyan Parag started to make a partnership but only managed to get 15 runs as the former was dismissed by Chawla in the 11th over owing to a brilliant catch by Russell.
WATCH – Riyan Parag Got Hit-wicket After Smashing A Six
After those dismissals, Parag made some partnerships with Stuart Binny and Gopal and RR needed 18 runs in last two overs. On the fourth ball of the penultimate over, Parag smashed a huge six off Russell, but on the very next ball, he got hit wicket. After his wicket, RR needed 9 runs in the final over and Archer finished the game with a four and a six on the first two balls of the final over. Rajasthan won the game by 3 wickets and 4 balls to spare.
Brief Score:
Rajasthan Royals – 177/7 in 19.2 overs (R Parag: 47, A Rahane: 34; P Chawla; 3/20) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders – 175/6 in 20 overs (D Karthik: 97*; V Aaron: 2/20, S Gopal: 1/31) by 3 wickets and 4 balls to spare
Here is how Twitter reacted to RR’s win:
What a talent this kid #RiyanParag is! So cool, calm & collected in such pressure situation! He was hit on helmet, but played more aggressively & sensibly after! Remember he is just 17 yr old, playing infront of a big Kolkata crowd. He needs to be nurtured. #KKRvRR #IPL2019
— ThatCricketGuy (@abhijeetsarap) April 25, 2019
Is saal ki apni akhri match mein kamaal kiya is #karatekid ne. #KKRvRR #jofraarcher
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 25, 2019
KKR’s last six IPL matches:
L, L, L, L, L, LKKR’s last four IPL matches at Kolkata:
L, L, L, L #KKRvRR— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 25, 2019
So #RR live to fight another day! #KKRvRR#IPL2019#IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 25, 2019
This will hurt @KKRiders the most. 5 down and it should have been a closed game. Well played Riyan Parag. Second time this tournament. Prasidh two in two in the slot. Not a single proper Yorker.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) April 25, 2019
Superb effort from Riyan Parag and Jofra Archer sees RR through. Youngsters had a great night out at Eden. #IPL2019 #KKRvRR
Dinesh Karthik was slightly unlucky tonight.— Avinash Sharma (@avinashrcsharma) April 25, 2019
This Riyan Parag has something really special in him. Every one talks about Gill & Shaw, just look at his temperament & maturity he is showing at this stage of match. He is just 17, and will go up and up from here. Wanna see him more.
Sad for Russell.#KKRvRR
— Sanaya Maheshwari (@SanayaEklavya) April 25, 2019
well ….what match it was …..i think RIYAN PARAG has set the game for RR …..another future star in making ….very calm under pressure …..in the end good finish by Archer …well done RR On the win ….#KKRvRR
— Ganesh sobanapuram (@imGANESH25) April 25, 2019
Kkr had almost won this game until a 17year old boy Riyan parag took away the game from them 👏👏Good to see young talents in IPL
— Nishom (@iamnishom) April 25, 2019
Game over!!! Congratulations @rajasthanroyals and importantly they stay alive in the tournament!
well done #Riyan parag#RR win#KKRvRR#VIVOIPL2019
— Chowkidar #Bhavik Aparnathi (@Bhavik91262467) April 25, 2019
This Riyan Parag looks a serious cricketer. Didn't think he'd grow so much in a year, when I watched him at the U19 WC last year, but he has. The kid can play!
— Aaditya Narayan (@Aaditya_LFC) April 25, 2019
17 years old Riyan Parag has just announced himself. What a heroic innings. Matchwinner 👌🙌#KKRvRR #IPL2019
— Kush Dedhia Mufc (@kushdedhia) April 25, 2019
#KKRvRR
Absoulety sensational Riyan Parag
A tournament where Talent meets opportunity
What an unfortunate way to get out
Jofra Archer ends his #IPL12 #IPL2019 campaign for #RR with a big WINDinesh Kartik's innings goes in vain
Is #KKR still in the hunt ???— Dhruvin Panchamia (@Dhruvin_04) April 25, 2019
Riyan Parag 🙌
I feel really very happy wenever I see a youngster win a match for his team ❤️
This is the main reason why I love watching the IPL ❤️ #IPL2019 #KKRvRR #RiyanParag— Bhavesh Lamba (@LambaBhavesh) April 25, 2019