KKR open account in IPL, beat RR by four wickets
Kolkata (PTI): A timely unbeaten 53 from vice-captain Rinku Singh powered former champions Kolkata Knight Riders to their first win of the season as they defeated Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in the IPL here on Sunday.
The spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine applied the brakes effectively to restrict Rajasthan Royals to 155 for nine.
Opting to bat, Yashasvi Jaiswal (39) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (46) provided a flying start as RR reached 81-0 in 8.3 overs but spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy (3/14) and Sunil Narine (2/26) put in the squeeze to leave the visitors at 124 for 5 in 16 overs.
Shimron Hetmyer (15) and Riyan Parag (12) reached double digit scores but Kartik Tyagi (3/22 ) then scalped three wickets as they couldn't recover, managing a below-par total.
In reply, KKR slipped 5 for 2 in 2nd over before losing half their side for 70 in 11th over.
Rinku then steadied the chase, sharing a decisive 76-run stand off 37 balls with Anukul Roy (29) to guide KKR home with two balls to spare.
Brief scores:
Rajasthan Royals 155 for 9 in 20 overs (Jaiswal 39, Sooryavanshi 46; Chakaravarthy 3/14, Tyagi 3/22, Narine 2/26).
Kolkata Knight Riders 161 for 6 in 19.4 overs (Rinku 53 not out; Ravindra Jadeja 2/8).
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Conolly, Arya fifties carry PBKS to 254/7 against LSG
Mullanpur (PTI): Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly were in a punishing mood, making 93 and 87 respectively, to drive Punjab Kings to an imposing 254/7 against Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL match here on Sunday.
Arya and Connolly added 182 runs in just 13.2 overs for a massively entertaining second wicket stand for PBKS, as they tallied this IPL season's highest total, going past RCB's 250 for three.
LSG managed to dismiss the duo and Punjah skipper Shreyas Iyer in quick succession but the home team had already built a superb launching pad by then for Marcus Stoinis (29) to cash in.
Brief scores: Punjab Kings: 254/7 in 20 overs (Cooper Connolly 87, Priyansh Arya 93; Prince Yadav 2/25).
