Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals: Match Review IPL 2020

In this article, we review KKR vs RR on November 1, with a focus on the winner of match 54. We consider the lead-up to the match by the two sides as well as the result of the previous league meeting between them. We also take into account the conclusions we can make from this game for future betting.

Match Build up

• Ahead of the game against RR, KKR lost to CSK, creating a cloud of uncertainty over their qualification for the playoffs.
• RR had a morale-boosting 7-wicket win against KXIP to become on par with KKR when it comes to the number of points.
• In their previous league match between the sides, KKR beat RR by 37 runs in Dubai.

Match Analytics and Highlights

In their last league fixture of the IPL 2020 held at the Dubai International Stadium on 1 November, KKR subjected RR to a 60-run defeat on the back of skipper Eoin Morgan’s fifty and Pat Cummins’s haul of four wickets.

With both teams having notched up 6 wins each, this was a crucial game: the loser would have to exit the competition, while the winner would remain in contention for a place in the playoffs. RR won the toss and chose to field. Their decision to put KKR in led to immediate success when KKR opener Sunil Narine departed without scoring. But a second-wicket stand of 72 between Gill (36) and Tripathi (39) put KKR back on track. Morgan’s 68 off 35 balls was just the impetus KKR needed to run up a daunting score of 191/7.

Beginning with a flourish that resulted in 19 runs in the first over, KKR lost their way after being reduced to 41/5 thanks mainly to Cummins who finished with figures of 4/34. Shivam Mavi and Varun Chakravarthy took two wickets each, while Kamlesh Nagarkoti snared one as RR were restricted to 131/9 in their allotted overs. Barring Stokes (35) and Tewatia (31), the RR batsmen failed to stand up to the challenge and the squad led by Steve Smith were shown the exit door.

Highlights:

• Morgan notched up his first fifty of the IPL 2020 with 5 fours and 6 sixes
• Cummins snared four crucial wickets, justifying the huge price KKR paid during the IPL auction for the Australian paceman;
• Dinesh Karthik made up for his batting failure with four brilliant catches behind the stumps.

Summary

The absence of Ben Stokes hurt Rajasthan Royals in the first half of the competition. As a result, the match against KKR became a must-win if Steve Smith’s men were to qualify for the playoffs. The added pressure worked to the team’s detriment especially after their decision to allow KKR batsmen first use of the wicket backfired. Despite dew that was expected to make batting easier in the second innings, the Royals lost many early wickets. Their batsmen were guilty of going too hard too early. KKR, on the other hand, played to a plan and did just enough to stay in contention for a place in the playoffs.