IPL 4 Match Result: Kolkata Knight Riders Whip Rajasthan Royals

Half-way Mark:

At the 10-over mark, RR had moved to 67/1, with Dravid on 32 and Menaria on 19. The last two overs had yielded 22 runs and there seemed to be a sense of urgency.

Fifteen Over Stage:

In a single over - the only one he bowled - Pathan removed both Menaria and Dravid, and some cynics believed he had won the Kolkata Knight Riders india cricket game for RR by having the two batsmen replaced by big hitters, Watson and Taylor. At 102/3, RR needed some explosive hitting to get to a 170-plus total that would be competitive on a slow wicket.

Slog Overs (16 - 20):

Despite three sixes in the first two slog overs, RR appeared to flounder, as they lost Watson, bowled by Shakib Hasan, the bowler he had savaged during his record breaking knock of 185 chasing 230 to win against Bangladesh, a few days ago. Warne's wards managed to reach 159/4, perhaps 15 runs or so short of comfort.

First Innings Verdict:

Warne's decision not to use Watson at the top of the order was baffling considering the form the opener displayed in Bangladesh. In RR's favour, they had never lost a game in which they were defending a target of over 145.

Second Innings (KKR):

Power Play Overs (1-6):

Bisla's run out in the second over brought Gambhir to the crease. Virtually forced into his natural role of opener, Gambhir got into his stride very quickly. The Power Play overs brought 62 runs, and with both Kallis and Gambhir striking the ball well, KKR were looking imperious.

Half-way Mark:

Dropped twice, though both were difficult chances, Gambhir had 49 off 27 balls, in a team score of 90/1. Kallis, content to play the passive partner, had 37 off 30 deliveries. The asking rate was down to 7 runs, and with nine wickets in hand, it was difficult to see how KKR could contrive to lose from here.

Fifteen Over Stage:

Forty more runs added without further loss of wickets meant that KKR were cruising to victory. There was a false alarm in the fifteenth over, when Gambhir was caught on the fence off Trivedi. Umpire Aleem Dar called it a no ball, as there were just three men, as opposed to the requirement of four fielders, inside the circle.

Slog Overs (16-20):

It was all over, on the third ball of the penultimate over, when Kallis got the winning run, his 80th.

Final Verdict:

Rajasthan were delivered a royal whipping by the Knight Riders, and part of the blame rested with skipper Shane Warne's reluctance to hand the opening slot to Watson. You'd want your best batsman to get to face as many deliveries as possible, especially in the Power Play overs.