Twitter Reactions: KKR register a royal 60-run win over RR to stay alive in IPL 2020; Royals knocked out

The maddening mayhem of the Indian Premier League (IPL) does not seem to come to an end. This edition’s results have ensured that the league stage doesn’t even have a single dead-rubber. So what if we are in the last two days of the league fixtures? It is not over yet! And two teams – the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals – with the hope of keeping themselves alive and breathing met in an undesignated knockout clash.

The equation for both the teams was simple – a loss meant a punch of death. Considering how things unfolded for them in the last couple of encounters, RR’s skipper Steve Smith chose to field upon winning the toss. While the big show Andre Russell was included in KKR’s eleven at the expense of Lockie Ferguson, the Royals made no amends in their winning combination.

KKR’s rollercoaster start

Doing what he does the best, Jofra Archer struck early once again as he banged one short against Nitish Rana, who poked at it and saw Sanju Samson collect an easy catch behind the wickets. Repairing the situation after the early strike of the opponent, Rahul Tripathi, and Shubman Gill joined hands, and while they respected Archer, they targeted the other bowlers impressively.

Gill (36 from 24) accelerated quickly and looked at ease, although while trying to sweep Rahul Tewatia, he top-edged the ball high in the air, and Jos Buttler at midwicket made no mistake.

Russell and Morgan’s counterattack

The move of promoting Sunil Narine above the rest backfired, as the pinch-hitter fell for a second-ball duck while he was trying to clear long-on. Two quick wickets – Rahul Tripathi (39 from 34), and Dinesh Karthik, who got a golden duck – in a space four balls brought skipper Eoin Morgan (68 from 35) and Andre Russell together. Adding 40 runs briskly with Russell, Morgan provided the team the lost momentum back. Some late acceleration from the skipper alongside Pat Cummins led KKR to a daunting total of 191.

Cummins’ “Royal” comeback

The Royals’ outfit must have backed themselves, given that they were coming after two spectacular and intense chases. If anything, slapping 19 runs of the first five deliveries of Pat Cummins in the first over would have only made them believe more in themselves. Although what followed was a forgettable effort. It seemed that Cummins had saved his best for the last game.

The million-dollar man managed to make a comeback and dismissed Robin Uthappa, who flicked one straight to deep square leg, on the last ball of the first over. The Royals were jolted in no time again as Ben Stokes (18 from 11) walked back courtesy of a blinder of a catch by wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.

RR’s score from 27/2 deteriorated to 37/5 as Cummins got rid of his compatriot Steve Smith, who played on a short of a length delivery; Shivam Mavi made Sanju Samson edge one to the wicketkeeper. Looking at his scalding run, skipper Morgan gave an extra over to Cummins, and he did not disappoint as he made Riyan Parag walk back for a duck.

Though the tumbling stopped for a brief while, when Jos Buttler came in alongside Rahul Tewatia, and the duo added 43 runs. However, Cummins (4-0-34-4) came back to get his fourth, making the dangerous Buttler (35 from 22) his last victim. Barring the first five balls of the innings, Rajasthan Royals never looked being in the chase and eventually ended up gifting Kolkata Knight Riders a massive 60 runs.

 Here’s how Twitter reacted: