Photographs: BCCI
Rajasthan Royals registered their third victory in five matches when they beat Kolkata Knight Riders via the Super Over in the Indian Premier League match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
- Scorecard
After Shakib Al Hasan tied the match for Kolkata with the score on 152 for 8, Rajasthan, having to get 12 in the Super Over, clinched the issue on boundary countback after scoring 11 without loss.
In the final analysis, they hit more boundaries (18 fours and a six), while Kolkata hit 14 fours and a six in the stipulated overs.
Sunil Narine bowled the Super Over for KKR as Shane Watson opened the batting with Steven Smith.
Watson hit the first ball to long-off for a single and then Smith flicked the second on the leg side for two runs. 3-0 (0.2)
Smith then attempted the reverse sweep but got just a single on the off-side. 4-0 (0.3)
Narine dropped the fourth delivery short and Watson pulled it over the deep mid-wicket boundary for four. 8-0 (0.4)
He then drove the ball to long-off for a single as Rajasthan needed three runs from the last ball for victory. 9-0 (0.5)
Smith sealed the match by tapping the last delivery on the off-side and sprinting for two runs to tie Super Over score. 11-0 (0.6)
Batting first in the Super Over, Surya Kumar Yadav and Shakib Al Hasan opened for KKR, while James Faulkner, who took three wickets in the 19th over, bowled for Royals.
It was a disastrous start for the 2012 champions as Yadav’s flick off the first ball was brilliantly saved by a diving Sanju Samson behind the stumps. There was a run-out as the batsmen tried steal a second run but were caught short. 1-1 (0.1)
Manish Pandey, the last batsman for KKR in the Super Over, walked in. He tapped the second ball on the leg side for a single. 2-1 (0.2)
Then Shakib’s full delivery was stopped by Faulkner at the cost of just a single. 3-1 (0.3)
Pandey then came down the pitch and hit a slower delivery into the stands over long-on for a six. 9-1 (0.4), before doing well to get a singles off Faulkner’s next delivery. 10-1 (0.5)
Shakib was run-out off he last ball as KKR finished on 11 runs in the Super Over.
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PHOTOS: Rahane scores second fifty in IPL-7
Image: Rajasthan Royals' Ajinkya Rahane during his fine knock against Kolkata Knight RidersPhotographs: BCCI
Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane scored a fine 72 as Rajasthan Royals, electing to bat, put up 152 for 5 in their 20 overs.
His runs came off 59 balls and included six fours and one six. It was his second fifty this season. His first was a 59 off 53 balls in Rajasthan's four-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
He was well-supported by Shane Watson (33) and Sanju Samson (20) before a quick 19 off 11 balls towards the end by Steve Smith swelled Rajasthan’s total.
Iqbal Abdulla made his debut for Royals, replacing Abhishek Nayar, while left-arm pacer James Faulker was included in place of Tim Southee.
Kolkata finally lost patience with the struggling Yusuf Pathan. He made way for wicketkeeper Manvinder Bisla, while Shakib Al Hasan replaced Chris Lynn.
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PHOTOS: Vinay Kumar gives Kolkata early wicket
Image: R Vinay Kumar is congratulated by his Kolkata Knight Riders' teammates after dismissing Karun NairPhotographs: BCCI
Kolkata Knight Riders were given an early breakthrough by R Vinay Kumar.
The India pacer struck in his second over, dismissing Karun Nair.
The batsman came down the track, went for a wild heave but missed the delivery and was bowled by his Karnataka team mate after scoring just one.
The Royals were 15 for 1 after three overs at that stage.
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PHOTOS: Shakib Al Hasan checks Samson in his stride
Image: Kolkata Knight Riders' players congratulate Shakib Al Hasan after he dismissed Sanju SamsonPhotographs: BCCI
Sanju Samson, who replaced Nair at the wicket, got going immediately and struck up a good partnership with Rahane before he was bowled by Bangladesh left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan in the ninth over.
In an attempt to step up the scoring rate, Samson, who had already cleared the fence four times, went for another big hit. But as he made room to hit through the off-side, the ball brushed his pads and disturbed the stumps.
Samson was out for 20 from 19 balls and Rajasthan Royals slumped to 57 for 2 after nine overs.
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PHOTOS: Watson-Rahane partnership gives Royals healthy total
Image: Shane WatsonPhotographs: BCCI
Shane Watson and Rahane then steadied the Rajasthan innings in a partnership of 64 runs.
The duo eschewed the big hits and dealt mostly in ones and twos before the Australian was run-out trying to steal a second run. A slight hesitation after completing the first run brought about his downfall.
Manish Pandey's flat and accurate throw from sweeper cover saw wicketkeeper Manvinder Bisla collect the ball cleanly and dislodge the bails with Watson just short of the crease.
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Tambe dismisses Kallis
Image: Pravin Tambe (left) celebrates the wicket of Jacques Kallis with team mate Sanju SamsonPhotographs: BCCI
Rajasthan's bowlers bowled a disciplined spell with the new ball to have Kolkata Knight Riders under pressure from the start.
Manvinder Bisla, who opened the innings, struggled to get going and was caught at first slip off Kane Richardson for three.
Jacques Kallis, who was caught off a no-ball off Shane Watson, could not make most of the lifeline and was caught by Steven Smith off Pravin Tambe for 13.
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Gambhir back among the runs
Image: Gautam GambhirPhotographs: BCCI
Gautam Gambhir was back among the runs after four straight failures with a good innings of 45 from 44 balls before he was caught in the deep off Rajat Bhatia.
Surya Kumar Yadav hit a quickfire 31 from 19 balls and Shakib Al Hasan stroked 29 not out from 18 balls, but Faulkner took three wickets in the 19th over to take the match into the Super Over after it ended in a tie.
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Rajasthan win a thriller
Image: Shane Watson celebrates victoryPhotographs: BCCI
Batting first in the Super Over, Kolkata put up 11 for one after Manish Pandey had hit Faulkner for a six.
In reply, Shane Watson hit Sunil Narine for a boundary before Smith tapped the last ball into the covers to get two runs and take Rajasthan to a thrilling victory.
Rajasthan, having to get 12 in the Super Over, clinched the issue on boundary countback after scoring 11 without loss.
In the final analysis, they hit more boundaries (18 fours and a six), while Kolkata hit 14 fours and a six in the stipulated overs.
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