RR vs KKR: Rinku, Rana help KKR break losing slump

RR vs KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders broke out of their match-losing streak of five matches with a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals. This is their fourth victory in the season. Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana laid a good foundation for an easy finish on Monday after the bowlers did well to restrict Rajasthan to just 153 runs (May 2). With the win, KKR kept their season alive, while RR suffered their second consecutive defeat but maintained their third-place position in the rankings.

RR vs KKR: Another ordinary start for the opening pair

This is the fifth time that they are opening this season, with KKR having Venkatesh Iyer left out from the team given his failure to be consistent. The opening two could only contribute 16 runs before Kuldeep Sen nabbed Aaron Finch for another cheap run. Trent Boult was stingy with his three overs in the powerplay, allowing only 14 runs and keeping the KKR hitters at bay. As KKR finished the first six at 32/2, Prasidh Krishna continued to strike in the powerplay with Baba Indrajith’s wicket.

RR vs KKR: Who made the most out of the match?

Rinku Singh’s undefeated 42-off 23 helped KKR break their losing run. Rana made the most of his start, hanging in at the other end with an unbroken 48 off 36, but it was Rinku Singh’s punches towards the end that helped KKR break their losing streak. He had a wonderful day earlier in the field and brought that confidence into the chase with a cool head, hitting six fours and a six while adding 66 runs for the fourth wicket with Rana.

He hit numerous magnificent strokes, but the whip to cow corner in the penultimate over from Prasidh Krishna to the boundary was his favorite. Chahal, who had taken five wickets in the previous match between these two teams, including a hat-trick, returned none tonight as RR’s bowling attack dominated.

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RR vs KKR: Who kept pushing the scorecard of RR?

Samson. Buttler was subdued at the outset, while Samson got off to a fast start after Padikkal fell. He appeared to be aggressive until he appeared to have hurt his back. He lost his rhythm and movement after that, and he couldn’t play his shots easily. Buttler was dismissed for 22 runs in 25 balls, while Karun Nair, who was brought in to counter KKR’s spin strength, was dismissed for 13 runs in 13 balls. Sunil Narine was also outstanding in the middle overs, surrendering only 19 runs in his four overs to keep the batsmen at bay. Samson reached his fifty before holing out after one of his slowest IPL innings. Samson also reached the 30-ball milestone for the first time this season. He ended with a 54 out of 49 balls.

RR vs KKR: Riyan Parag outshined Hetmyer?

Rajasthan Royals should have considered sending Riyan Parag ahead of Karun and Hetmyer. The in-form Parag who had scored a fifty in the last game hit two sixes and a boundary before holding out. Shimron Hetmyer came into the mid-order through the 17^th over and faced Tim Southee in the 19^th over. RR stole 20 runs off the penultimate over when Hetmyer hit two sixes in Southee’s over. Southee had a tough evening after he conceded 46 in his four overs.