Riyan Parag, typically recognized for his batting skills, has also been a reliable bowler in domestic cricket. Now leading Rajasthan Royals, he’s trying to showcase his all-round abilities at the international level. Although he didn’t take a wicket in his initial two overs, his disciplined bowling kept the pressure on KKR’s batters, especially Moeen Ali, who struggled to find any rhythm.
The breakthrough finally arrived on the first ball of the seventh over, but it came in an unexpected way — a run-out. Moeen Ali played a short-of-length delivery toward deep extra cover and pushed for a risky second run. However, Quinton de Kock wasn’t interested, leaving Ali stranded. Theekshana’s sharp throw arrived at the bowler’s end, and Riyan Parag casually flicked off the bails.
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Initially, it seemed like a half-hearted appeal, with most players assuming Moeen had made it back in time. However, the replays told a different story, showing that Ali was just short of the crease, handing Rajasthan Royals a much-needed first breakthrough.
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Despite the wicket, KKR remained in control as the target of 152 set by Rajasthan Royals wasn’t daunting. The KKR spinners had already dominated in the first innings, and the Royals would need their own spin attack to create similar pressure if they wanted a chance at defending the modest total.
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Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma
