IPL 8, RR vs KKR Highlights: Rajasthan Beat Kolkata by 9 Runs to Enter Play-Offs

Rajasthan Royals beat Kolkata Knight Riders in a battle for play-offs. Catch the highlights from the match here (All Times in IST) (Scorecard | Points Table | Fixtures | Complete coverage of IPL 8)

00:00 It’s all over. Kolkata fall short by 10 runs, Rajasthan enter play-offs.

23:56 WICKET! Shakib is gone trying to go for a big hit. Kolkata 184/9 in 19.1 overs, Target: 200.

23:53 Some big shots from Umesh bring it down to 16 required off the last over. Kolkata 184/8 in 19 overs, Target: 200.

23:45 WICKET! Chawla finds the fielder and Kolkata are on the brink of defeat. Kolkata 159/8 in 17.2 overs, Target: 200.

Rajasthan celebrate a wicket vs Kolkata.

© BCCI

23:40 WICKET! Mahmood is gone as he throws his bat to no avail. Kolkata 156/7 in 16.4 overs, Target: 200.

23:29 WICKET! Pathan falls to Watson as he tries to clear the fence. Kolkata 146/6 in 15.2 overs, Target: 200.

23:26 Pathan and Shakib playing some big shots as the death overs begin. Kolkata 144/5 in 15 overs, Target: 200.

23:19 WICKET! Yadav is caught behind off a beauty by Morris. Kolkata 133/5 in 13.4 overs, Target: 200.

23:16 WICKET! Russell departs as he goes for one big hit too many. Kolkata 132/4 in 13.2 overs, Target: 200.

23:06 Kolkata getting in some big overs to keep pace with their target. Kolkata 116/3 in 12 overs, Target: 200.

22:55 Pathan and Russell looking to put Kolkata on the road to victory. Kolkata 97/3 in 10 overs, Target: 200.

Andre Russell bats vs Rajasthan.

© BCCI

22:48 WICKET! Pandey is out trying to hit a slower one from Kulkarni. Kolkata 77/3 in 8.1 overs, Target: 200.

22:45 Kolkata staying just about on course to chase down 200 vs Rajasthan. Kolkata 77/2 in 8 overs, Target: 200.

22:27 Pathan, Pandey need to repair the early damage done by Rajasthan. Kolkata 44/2 in 5 overs, Target: 200.

Yusuf Pathan in action vs Rajasthan.

© BCCI

22:15 WICKET! Uthappa’s lofted drive finds Smith at mid off. Kolkata 21/2 in 3 overs, Target: 200.

22:07 WICKET! Gambhir miscues a pull and gives an easy catch to Binny. Kolkata 8/1 in 1 over, Target: 200

Rajasthan celebrate the wicket of Gautam Gambhir.

© BCCI

22:02 Morris beats Uthappa all ends up with the first ball. Kolkata 0/0 in 0.1 overs, Target: 200

21:46 Rajasthan finish with 199/6 thanks to Watson’s 104 not out off 59 balls. Kolkata need 200 to win.

21:42 Watson gets his second IPL hundred off just 57 balls. Rajasthan 195/5 in 19.1 overs.

21:34 WICKET! Karun is caught by Uthappa as he tries to make room against Umesh. Rajasthan 180/5 in 18 overs.

21:21 Rajasthan set to go big in the death overs. Rajasthan 151/4 in 16 overs.

21:13 WICKET! Faulkner holes out to Yadav off Russell on the boundary. Rajasthan 140/4 in 14.3 overs.

21:03 WICKET! Samson is caught off a leading edge by Gambhir. Rajasthan 122/3 in 12.5 overs.

20:53 WICKET! Smith departs trying to force the pace, Kolkata getting a crucial wicket. Rajasthan 110/2 in 10.5 overs

20:49 Watson brings up his 15th IPL fifty off 31 balls. Rajasthan 107/1 in 10 overs.

20:40 Kolkata need to get more wickets if they are to stem the flow of runs from Rajasthan. Rajasthan 84/1 in 8 overs.

20:35 WICKET! The partnership ends the only way it could have, Rahane run out looking for a needless second run. Rajasthan 80/1 in 7 overs.

20:24 Kolkata bowlers have no answer to this onslaught by Rahane and Watson. Rajasthan 52/0 in 5 overs.

20:13 Rajasthan off to the best start they could have hoped for. Rajasthan 31/0 in 3 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane in action vs Kolkata Knight Riders.

© BCCI

20:05 Watson’s two boundaries give Rajasthan a good start to their innings. Rajasthan 9/0 in 1 over.

Shane Watson in action vs Kolkata Knight Riders.

© BCCI

20:00 Mahmood runs in for the first ball and Rahane safely negotiate it. Rajasthan 1/0 in 0.1 overs.

19:44 Here are the teams for today:

Rajasthan Royals:

AM Rahane, SR Watson, SPD Smith, KK Nair, DJ Hooda, SV Samson, JP Faulkner, STR Binny, CH Morris, DS Kulkarni, B Brainder Sran

Kolkata Knight Riders:

RV Uthappa, G Gambhir, MK Pandey, YK Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, AD Russell, Azhar Mahmood, SA Yadav, PP Chawla, UT Yadav, M Morkel

19:32 Rajasthan have chosen to bat in a must-win game against Kolkata.

Gautam Gambhir will hope to last the distance in the match between KKR and RR.

© BCCI

In what may well turn out to be a do-or-die battle, Rajasthan Royals lock horns with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders with both teams ready to battle to the hilt for two points. Rajasthan, after their loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 10, have dropped to fifth position with 14 points from 13 games, while KKR after being beaten by Mumbai Indians on Thursday are now third.

The two teams earlier met in the first leg on April 26 in Kolkata where the game was abandoned due to rain without a ball being bowled. “We will give our 100 percent against Royals on Saturday and see what happens,” KKR all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had said after losing to Mumbai. Rajasthan coach Paddy Upton though is aiming to thwart the ‘best efforts.’ “They (KKR) have a balanced bowling attack. They have some good seamers – Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins. They have got four high quality spinners. So we are fully aware of that. We are also aware of their strengths and weakness. We are fortunate to have such a significant batting line up,” said Upton. (Read more here)

On paper and on the field, both teams are quite evenly matched. All though would depend on which side is able to keep calm and eke out a win.