IPL 8 RR vs KKR: Watson, Morris dump Kolkata as RR qualify for playoffs
Mumbai:Shane Watson and Chris Morris combined to knock defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders out of the Indian Premier League in their final league match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.Morris picked up 4 for 23 as the Royals survived a late-order fightback from Kolkata and won by nine runs.
Watta knock #RRvsKKR #IPL @ShaneRWatson33 https://t.co/azcoLIEuZq
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But it was Chris Morris' magic with the ball (4-23) as the Royals survived a late-order fightback from Kolkata and won by nine runs. Earlier, Watson struck a stunning unbeaten 104 off just 59 balls to guide the Royals to 199/6 in their must-win game. Having passed on the burden of captaincy to Steve Smith, Watson excelled on a helpful track registering his second IPL century. The Aussie built on his clean hitting prowess clubbed with muscular force.He slammed nine boundaries and five sixes and also went past the 4,000-run mark in the IPL.
Asked to bowl first, the Knight Riders tinkered with their lineup and the decision to replace Sunil Narine with medium-pacer Azhar Mahmood misfired badly. Mahmood’s three overs cost the team 41 runs. Watson targetted the all-rounder and amassed 25 runs off just 11 balls.
The tinge of green on the pitch did little to pose a threat as Rajasthan openers smashed 66 runs in the power play. Bowling the first over, Mahmood was greeted with two boundaries while Rahane build pressure with a six off Morkel. The lanky South African, despite bowling in the mid 140kmph, found it difficult to make an impact as he conceded 22 runs in his first spell of two overs.
(Photo: BCCI)
Umesh Yadav bowled a tight first over, but his second fetched 11 runs as the Royals raced away to fifty in just five overs. Skipper Gambhir was forced to introduce a spinner and Watson struck a four and a six as a hapless Shaikb Al Hasan ended up with 14 against his name.A mix-up in the seventh over ended a fine opening stand of 80 runs when Rahane (37 of 22) was sent back by Watson.
(Photo: BCCI)
Scorecard
Rajasthan Royals: A. Rahane (run out) 37, S. Watson (not out) 104, S. Smith c Morkel b Russell 14, S. Samson c Gambhir b Russell 8, J. Faulkner c Yadav b Russell 6, K. Nair c Uthappa b Yadav 16, C. Morris (run out) 4. Extras (lb4, w4, nb2) 10. Total (for six wickets in 20 overs) 199.
FoW: 1-80, 2-110, 3-122, 4-140, 5-180, 6-199.
Bowling: Mahmood 3-0-41-0, Morkel 4-0-38-0, Yadav 4-0-36-1, Shakib 4-0-36-0, Russell 4-0-32-3, Chawla 1-0-12-0.
Kolkata Knight Riders: R. Uthappa c Smith b Kulkarni 14, G. Gambhir c Binny b Morris 1, M. Pandey c Morris b Kulkarni 21, Y. Pathan c Kulkarni b Watson 44, A. Russell c Kulkarni b Morris 37, Suryakumar Yadav c Samson b Morris 0, S. Al Hasan c Smith b Morris 13, Azhar Mahmood c Rahane b Faulkner 6, P. Chawla c Binny b Watson 0, U. Yadav (not out) 24, M. Morkel (not out) 4. Extras (lb3, w18, nb5) 26. Total (for nine wickets in 20 overs) 190.
FoW: 1-8, 2-21, 3-77, 4-132, 5-133, 6-146, 7-156, 8-159, 9-184.
Bowling: Morris 4-0-23-4, Brainder Sran 3-0-35-0, Kulkarni 4-0-36-2, Faulkner 4-0-45-1, Watson 4-0-38-2, Binny 1-0-10-0.
Check out: Points table
Here are the team line-ups
KKR XI: R Uthappa, G Gambhir, M Pandey, Y Pathan, S Al Hasan, A Russell, A Mahmood, S Yadav, P Chawla, U Yadav, M Morkel
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RR XI: A Rahane, S Watson, S Smith, K Nair, D Hooda, S Samson, J Faulkner, S Binny, C Morris, D Kulkarni, BS Saran
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