IPL 2020, KKR vs RR: Cummins, Morgan Star As Kolkata Deliver Rajasthan Knock Out Punch With 60 Runs Win

IPL 2020, Kolkata vs Rajasthan match in UAE: Kolkata's chance to make it to the playoffs still hangs in balance. Despite a win, KKR need the remaining results to go their way. NRR will have the final say while shortlisting the list for the play-offs.

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After a breezy 35-ball 68 run knock from KKR skipper Eoin Morgan with Russell's fiery finishing act, their most expensive bowler Pat Cummins (4/34) bowled a sensational spell to rattle RR's top-order. Rajasthan batsmen fell like a pack of cards in the 192-run chase. KKR handed the knock out punch to KXIP by defeating them by 60 runs on Sunday at Dubai. The big win the do-or-die match will take Kolkata to second spot in the IPL 13 points table from 8th position and keep their playoffs hope alive. However, Kolkata's chance to make it to the playoffs still hangs in balance. Despite a win, KKR need the remaining results to go their way. NRR will have the final say while shortlisting the list for the play-offs. Chasing a mammoth total for the win, Robin Uthappa and Ben Stokes came out to begin RR's chase. For Kolkata, Pat Cummins opened the attack with the new ball. The first over (6 2w 0 4 6 1 W) bowled by Kolkata Knight Riders most expensive bowler turned out to be an eventful one. The Aussie speedster first went for 19 runs but picked up a wicket on the last delivery of the same over. Steve Smith was the next man in and joined Stokes in the middle. Shivam Mavi shared the white-ball with Cummins. In the third over of the match, Cummins picked his second wicket in form of Stokes (18) to deliver another major blow to Rajasthan with the help of KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik, who bagged a one-handed stunner to clean up the star all-rounder. Cummins was on fire and after taking out Stokes, in the same over, he picked the most important wicket of the game by removing skipper Steven Smith (4). RR now started losing the plot here. After getting rid of his Aussie skipper. In the fourth over, RR's Mavi removed Samson (1) to put Kolkata in dire straits. The spree of wickets didn't stop as Cummins picked his fourth wicket in his third over. Riyan Parag, who gloved a well-pitched ball to Dinesh Karthik, was the latest to return back to the dugout. At the end of powerplay, Rajasthan crawled to 41 for loss of five wickets. Jos Buttler and Rahul Tewatia steadied RR's sinking ship with a decent recovery. The duo scored some runs to keep the scoreboard ticking but Buttler fell for as he looked to up the ante but holed to Cummins at long-on. Varun Chakravarthy got rid of Rahul Tewatia for 31 to end entertaining stay at the crease. Brief scores: KKR 191/7 in 20 overs (Eoin Morgan 68 not out, Rahul Tripathi 39; Rahul Tewatia 3/25) vs RR 131/9 in 20 overs (Jos Buttler 35, Rahul Tewatia 31; Pat Cummins 4/34) Earlier, RR won the toss and opted to bowl first. After a solid 50-plus opening stand from Shubhman Gill (36) and Rahul Tripathi (39), a fiery finishing act from skipper Eoin Morgan (35-ball 68) and star bowler Pat Cummins (11-ball 15) powered Kolkata Knight Riders to 191/7 against Rajasthan Royals. RR dented Kolkata's fiery start by taking quick wickets in the middle overs but skipper Morgan and Cummins staged a great comeback and delivered some late blows to help Kolkata post a good first innings total in the must-win clash. Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Sunil Narine, Eoin Morgan(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Andre Russell, Rahul Tripathi, Pat Cummins, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Robin Uthappa, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson(w), Steven Smith(c), Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Varun Aaron, Kartik Tyagi