IPL 2020, KKR vs RR: Cummins, Morgan Shine As Kolkata Post 191/7 Against Rajasthan In A Must-Win Match

IPL 2020, Kolkata vs Rajasthan match today in UAE: A loss in this match could shatter any one team's dream of going into the playoffs for the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Both teams currently have 12 points from 13 matches. Rajasthan is ranked fifth due to better run rate, while Kolkata is in sixth place. This is the last match of the league stage for both teams and a win tonight will keep them in the playoff race.

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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 on Sunday. 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.

A loss in this match could shatter any one team's dream of going into the playoffs for the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Both teams currently have 12 points from 13 matches. Rajasthan is ranked fifth due to better run rate, while Kolkata is in sixth place. This is the last match of the league stage for both teams and a win tonight will keep them in the playoff race.  NRR will have the final say while shortlisting the list for the play-offs.

For KKR, Nitish Rana and Shubhman Gill came out in the middle to start the proceedings. Jofra Archer removed Nitish Rana for a golden duck -- his third in last five innings -- in the very first over of the match after Rajasthan opted to field first against Kolkata Knight Riders in the do or die clash.

Gill, who likes to dominate even the good deliveries, took the attack straight to Varun Aaron as he smashed three quality boundaries in the second over to put some pressure on the RR bowlers. To pull things back after losing Rana for zero, Gill and Tripathi started finding boundaries to bring up a quick 50-run partnership in quick time. At the end of the powerplay, KKR reached 55/1.

Tewatia halted the flow of runs by taking two quick wickets in a gap of just 3 deliveries. First, he removed well-set Gill for 36 and later he cleaned up Sunil Narine, who skied his first delivery to get caught out by Ben Stokes at long-on for a golden duck.

A good running catch by Robin Uthappa helped Shreyas Gopal clean up Rahul Tripathi. Dinesh Karthik was the next man in but had to depart for zero -- third golden duck of the KKR innings -- after he edged the ball to give skipper Smith a simple catch.

After Karthik's departure Russell started the fireworks by hitting two back-to-back sixes against Tiyagi - but then the bowler cut short his innings in the same over after the KKR batsman again tried to go big but ended up picking out sub fielder Miller at deep cover.

Morgan then hit consecutive sixes and a four as KKR took a total of 24 runs from that over. Morgan hit a six off the last ball of the innings to take KKR beyond 190. Brief scores: KKR 191/7 in 20 overs (Eoin Morgan 68 not out, Rahul Tripathi 39; Rahul Tewatia 3/25)

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