Home
In a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire, the Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious against the Rajasthan Royals, securing a thrilling one-run win. This dramatic triumph in their IPL 2025 clash has significantly boosted Kolkata's aspirations of qualifying for the playoffs.
While chasing a big target of 207, Rajasthan Royals found themselves needing 22 runs in the final over, which was being bowled by Vaibhav Arora. Shubham Dubey kept Rajasthan's hopes alive with a valiant effort, smashing two sixes and a boundary, bringing the equation down to just 3 runs required off the last delivery. However, in a dramatic turn of events, a sharp and accurate throw from Rinku Singh resulted in Jofra Archer being run out while attempting to steal a second run. This crucial moment sealed a nail-biting one-run win for KKR despite Riyan Parag's lightning 45-ball 95.
With this win KKR moved to sixth in the IPL 2025 points table with 11 points in 11 matches to remain relevant in playoff race, while the already eliminated RR continued to bit dust in the eighth spot.
KKR will next face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 7 at the Eden Gardens stadium. Meanwhile RR will also lock horns with CSK on May 12 at the MA Chidambaram stadium.
Earlier, KKR set a formidable target of 207 runs for Rajasthan Royals, finishing their innings at 206 for the loss of four wickets. Andre Russell, who initially seemed to be struggling with his timing, finally found his rhythm and unleashed a powerful display of batting. The right-handed batsman remained unbeaten on 57 runs, facing just 25 deliveries and smashing an impressive six sixes and four boundaries. Adding to the strong batting performance, young Angkrish once again showcased his talent with an impressive knock of 44 runs off 31 balls, which included five boundaries. The duo of Russell and Angkrish contributed a crucial 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
In the final overs, Rinku Singh provided a late flourish to the KKR innings, scoring a quickfire 19 not out off just 6 balls, punctuated by two sixes and one four. Earlier in the innings, Ajinkya Rahane (30 off 24 balls) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35 off 25 balls) also made valuable contributions with the bat. On the bowling front for Rajasthan Royals, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh, and stand-in captain Riyan Parag each managed to take one wicket.
Not it was RR batters' turn to give it back to KKR. But things didn't pan out the way they wanted as they got off to a horrible start and Riyan Parag had almost single-handedly rescued the team from a precarious 71 for 5, bringing them within touching distance of what would have been a remarkable win. However, the stand-in captain's dismissal in the 18th over, while attempting to alleviate the mounting pressure caused by Shubham Dubey's earlier struggles with his timing, proved to be a critical blow. While Dubey later tried to compensate with some powerful hitting in the final over, the men in pink ultimately fell short by the narrowest of margins.
KKR's spin duo, Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali, were proving to be a formidable challenge on a pitch that favoured the slower bowlers. However, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer forged a crucial 92-run partnership for the sixth wicket, scoring these runs in just 48 balls, which reignited Rajasthan's hopes of a comeback.
At one point, a swift conclusion to the first match of Sunday's double-header seemed highly probable. Yet, Riyan Parag played with fearless aggression, maintaining the attacking tempo he had established during the powerplay. Having already taken the attack to Harshit Rana early in the innings, he continued his aggressive approach against Moeen Ali, who had looked threatening in his initial overs. The England spinner had conceded a mere 11 runs and taken two wickets in his first two overs, but Riyan dismantled his bowling with remarkable ease.
In a stunning display of power hitting, Parag smashed five consecutive sixes in the 13th over, single-handedly swinging the momentum of the game in his team's favour. In doing so, Riyan joined an elite list of players, including Chris Gayle, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rinku Singh, who have also achieved the feat of hitting five consecutive sixes in a single over. He then extended his six-hitting streak to six by dispatching Varun Chakravarthy for a six with a reverse sweep in the very next over. Riyan's clean and powerful striking against the spinners was evident as the right-hander employed sweeps and slog-sweeps against Moeen Ali with effortless precision, denying the off-spinner any respite even when bowling a wider line.
Shimron Hetmyer, who had been searching for his rhythm throughout the season, finally provided a glimpse of his capabilities, scoring 29 runs off 23 balls, including a six and a boundary. In this crucial partnership, Hetmyer played a supportive role, effectively rotating the strike and allowing the in-form Riyan Parag to continue his aggressive assault on the KKR' bowling attack.
Riyan Parag's magnificent innings included an impressive eight sixes and six boundaries, and he appeared to be on the verge of scoring his maiden IPL century. However, his hopes were dashed in the 18th over when he was dismissed by Harshit Rana, falling just five runs short of the coveted milestone.
Despite his breathtaking knock, RR' stand-in captain was unable to guide his team to victory. The pressure of the scoreboard seemed to weigh heavily on the young batter after the flow of boundaries ceased following Hetmyer's dismissal.
Harshit Rana proved to be a key bowler for Ajinkya Rahane's side in the crucial death overs. In the 16th over, Rana bowled a well-directed bouncer to dismiss Hetmyer, breaking the dangerous partnership that threatened to take the game away from Kolkata. He then followed this up by claiming the vital wicket of Riyan Parag, leaving the Rajasthan Royals' chase in disarray.
Impact substitute Shubham Dubey struggled to provide the necessary acceleration to the innings, which slowed down considerably after Hetmyer's departure, failing to maintain the momentum created by Riyan. Under increasing pressure, Riyan attempted to clear the long-off boundary in the 18th over but unfortunately found the safe hands of Vaibhav Arora in the deep which was the end of story for RR.
ADVERTISEMENT
