Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Match 28 Match Summary

Closing out the weekend - Kolkata Knight Riders complete the set, and all 10 teams now have at least one win on the board. Also, for now, KKR even move ahead of Mumbai Indians in the points table. Rajasthan Royals have a bit to ponder upon as this is their second loss in as many games and they will look to bounce back stronger. Let's now turn our attention to Mullanpur, where the unbeaten Punjab Kings are going up against Lucknow Super Giants in the final game of the weekend. Lucknow have elected to bowl first in that one, and you can simply switch tabs to catch our coverage of that game. Cheers!

POTM - Varun Chakaravarthy! Varun Chakaravarthy is given the award for his fine figures of 4-0-14-3. Varun starts by saying that before talking about himself, he wants to talk about the coaching staff, who shut out the outside noise and helped the players keep their focus. Adds that he didn't do anything special in this game, and it is more about the pitches and also cites that he was a bit injured in the opening few matches. Goes on to say that the wicket was a bit on the slower side and they could have batted a bit better. Further mentions that they are here to stay competitive and fight for the trophy.

The captain of Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane says he is happy with the win. Adds that there were a lot of emotions in the dugout. He singles out Varun Chakaravarthy, who had been going through a difficult phase but says he has bowled well across the last three games. He is equally pleased for Rinku Singh, who he says had been dealing with a tough period mentally, and seeing him finish the game means a lot. On Anukul Roy, Rahane notes he had a fantastic domestic season and while he couldn't bowl today due to the left-handers, the way he batted was something that made him very happy. On his conversations with the players, Rahane shares that he prefers one-on-one chats and that the coaching staff has been consistently engaging with the group. Tells that the key is reading situations well and keeping the game simple. He notes that the bowlers have come into their own over the last three games, operating well in groups, and while he accepts the batting needs improvement, he feels there were plenty of positives to take from the win. On Tyagi, Rahane mentions that he has been clear about his own ability and that kind of self-awareness he has at such a young age is impressive. Adds that the pace Tyagi has been generating is remarkable and that he has been delighted to see him growing in confidence. Tells that there is always something to learn from every game and that is where cricketing awareness develops. On the batting, Rahane says there is plenty to learn and is candid about the Powerplay struggles over the last few games. He says that strike rate can be overrated and that on surfaces like this, rotating strike through singles and doubles is more important than going after big hits. He admits they made errors in the last couple of games. With five days before the next game, he says the group needs to reflect, be honest with each other and communicate clearly. He is quick to add that the atmosphere in the dressing room remains excellent. On the support from the fans, Rahane says they have been fantastic through a difficult run of five games and that this win belongs to them.

... The Presentation ceremony ...

Let's now quickly recap the first innings - Rajasthan Royals won the toss and Riyan Parag had no hesitation in batting first. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal started in fine fashion yet again, putting on 81 runs for the first wicket. However, once Sooryavanshi got out, it triggered a mini collapse. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were at their breathtaking best, picking up 5 wickets between them, and then Kartik Tyagi showed promise with a three-wicket haul himself. Barring the openers, only two more RR batters got into double digits and they simply couldn't get to a total that looked defendable.

The man of the moment, Rinku, has his say - Rinku Singh starts by saying that one does get a bit frustrated when the runs aren't coming by, but his mindset was to take the game deep. On his attempted reverse hit after Powell got out, he says that sometimes the brain freezes but thankfully, the catch was put down and he managed to take his team over the line. Rinku further mentions that he can bat throughout the order and whenever he gets to bat, he tries to give his best. Adds that this win will give them a lot of coonfidence as it is the first one of the season and hopes that they can build on it.

Let's now hear from the RR skipper - On the target, Riyan Parag admits that they were well under par on a 170 wicket and says it was their game. Also accepts that they made a few silly errors in the fielding, which cost them and also stresses that they can't bowl lines that favor the batters. On the bowling decisions, Parag details that the surface was extracting a lot for spin and the way Bishnoi and Yash Punja bowled, it convinced him that was the way to go. He acknowledges it didn't fully come off but felt the plan itself worked, with a few errors in execution ultimately costing them the two points. On when he decided to bring Brijesh into the attack, Parag shares that Brijesh was close to bowling the 14th and 16th overs but two wickets fell and two left-handers came in, which changed the equation. He backs his spinners and says that they were in good rhythm and got the wickets the team needed. Further details that once Bishnoi's spell was done, he sensed the spinners could get targeted and adjusted from there. On Yash Punja, Parag says he has complete faith in everyone who pulls on a Royals shirt. Adds that Punja showed some nerves in his first over but settled well and if he keeps bowling those tough overs, there is every chance he develops into a fine bowler for the franchise.

The Royals almost pull it off - It had to be something special if Rajasthan Royals were to win this game and they almost got it as well. Jofra Archer set the tone with a wicket on the very first ball of the chase and Nandre Burger made it a double whammy, as he picked up a wicket in the next over as well. The game then ebbed and flowed a bit, but the Rajasthan spinners kept on chipping away at the wickets. Ravindra Jadeja finally found his rhythm as debutant Yash Punja bowled four solid overs as well, but that one big blemish in the field from Nandre Burger cost them dearly. The pacers came back into the picture late in the game, but couldn't get that decisive breakthrough to seal the game.

Rinku the saviour for KKR - All the good work done in the first innings by the bowlers was almost undone by the batters, but Rinku Singh and Anukul Roy have pulled it off. Rinku will get most of the applause and rightly so, but tip your hat off to Roy, who used all his domestic experience and gave Rinku that confidence from the other end by picking up crucial boundaries. It was a 76-run stand for the 7th wicket that got the job done for Kolkata but their top order left a lot to be desired. Both openers were dismissed for a duck and while there was some fight from the likes of Cameron Green and Rovman Powell in the middle order, KKR had dug themselves a big hole.

Stop the count, KKR have won a game - It's only taken them 7 games this season, but finally, the Knight Riders have a 'W' against their name, and what a morale-boosting win this could prove to be for them. Fair play to the Royals for making a real match out of it, but they were always 15-20 runs short.

SIX! Rinku Singh ends KKR's drought of wins this season. Brijesh bangs it in short and around leg, at shoulder height. Rinku gets underneath it, swivels, and pulls it extremely fine over long leg. Just enough to clear the rope for a six. With this, Rinku gets off to his FIFTY and brings his A-game when needed the most. Remember, he was dropped by Burger while batting on 8 runs, and one would now feel that was the turning point of the game. Regardless, a knock of high quality from Rinku Singh. KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS WIN BY 4 WICKETS!

Full and outside leg. Rinku swings and misses, takes it on the pad. Anukul is already charging through for a single but is sent back in a hurry. Brijesh collects in his follow-through but holds his throw. Anukul dives at the non-striker's end just in case. Dot ball.

FOUR! That is Rinku at his very best. Full and angled across outside off. Rinku drives hard on the front foot over cover, finds the middle, and it bounces through to the fence. SCORES ARE LEVEL NOW!

FOUR! Is that the game for KKR? Brijesh errs in line and length both. This is short with pace taken off, and angled onto the leg stump. Rinku Singh waits for the ball to arrive and pulls it behind square to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

Will Riyan Parag stick to Brijesh Sharma? He went for just 7 runs in the 18th over, and RR have 8 runs to play with. Anything more, and they will lose the game. Yes, Parag does stick to Brijesh Sharma ahead of Nandre Burger.

Excellent bit of running between the wickets! Archer fires in a full toss, almost knee-high, around off. Anukul Roy is late on the shot due to excessive pace and can only drill it in the mid off region. However, the fielders are in the deep on the off side and by the time the long off fielder could charge in, they cross over for two runs.

Just a bit of a hold up here as everyone seems to be struggling with the heat and the dew. Anukul Roy takes off his gloves as Archer brings out the towel as well.

Fires in fuller and on the off pole. Rinku Singh shovels it out toward deep point for a single only.

With long off pushed back now, this is a defensive yorker, outside off. Roy carves it to the sweeper cover for a single.

SIX! That will bring a lot more relief in that KKR dugout! Misses the yorker by just a bit, does Archer. It is full in the slot, on off. Anukul Roy gets his bat under the ball, stands firm, backs his power and muscles it over the long off fence for a cracking six. 13 needed off 9 balls now.

Attempted yorker, around off. Rinku cannot get under it cleanly and heaves it off the toe end to long on for a single.

Cannons in full and on middle, almost a yorker, at around 150 kph. Anukul Roy clears the front leg and crashes it to mid off's left, but the fielder, Riyan Parag, is quick to dive across in that direction and cuts it off nicely. One taken.

Two overs left, 21 needed for KKR. Will Jofra Archer bowl the penultimate over or will we see Nandre Burger have a go? It will be the more-experienced Archer to bowl the crucial over.

Full and straight on off. Anukul Roy carves it to the long off fielder for a single. The 50-run partnership comes up between Rinku and Anukul.

FOUR! Crucial runs for KKR! Frustration creeping in for the Royals. Short ball, on leg, Rinku backs away and looks to swat-pull. Gets a bottom edge onto his back thigh instead, and the ball deflects and beats Jurel diving to his left. Races away to the fence behind.

Nicely bowled again. Brijesh follows the batter as Rinku moves past the leg stump, and swipes it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Lands it short outside leg again, does Sharma. Rinku walks across the stumps and goes for the pull, catches the toe end, and it skips through to Jurel on the bounce.

WIDE! This one is clearly an extra. Over-the-head short ball, wide outside off. Rinku lets it be. Wide called.

Drama! Pitched on a length outside leg. Rinku sits down and swings across and misses. Not called a wide again. It actually passed very close to the leg stump as well.

Pitched outside leg on a good length. Rinku shuffles to the off side, and tries to glance it fine on the leg side, but misses. No wide given again and Rinku is left flummoxed by that. But they cannot review as KKR have no reviews remaining. Kumar Dharmasena cites that Rinku moved a bit too much across the stumps.