Riyan Parag's 95 in vain as KKR clinch thrilling one-run win

Kolkata Knight Riders secured a thrilling last-ball win in the high-scoring encounter at Eden Gardens, against Rajasthan Royals, to keep their playoff qualification hopes alive. Needing three run to win off the last ball, Shubham Dubey dug out a yorker and sprinted for a two, but Jofra Archer fell short in the non-striker's end as KKR secured a one-run win on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Riyan Parag had stroked a 45-ball 95 in pursuit of the 207-run chase, but underwhelming performances by the rest of the batters undid his good work. Andre Russell's unbeaten 57 proved handy for KKR as Rajasthan Royals fell agonisingly close in a chase for the fourth time this season.

The difference: Death overs

Andre Russell, who was struggling for form this season, blasted 41 runs in 12 balls in the death overs which allowed KKR to go past the 200-run mark.

Kolkata Knight Riders:

POWERPLAY: Gurbaz leads KKR to steady start despite Jofra's stingy returns

Phase score - 56/1 [RR: 9.33, 4s/6s: 4/4]

Jofra Archer who hit hard lengths and generated good bounce, kept Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz in check early on. However, Yudhvir Singh Charak straying in his lines often, proving expensive despite bowling some testing deliveries. Narine picked him for a six and a boundary, but the pacer had the last laugh, knocking the top of Narine's stumps as he went for a wild swing. Gurbaz, on the other hand, didn't have to wait on loose deliveries, and adjusted his game to counter the pacer. Ajinkya Rahane ended the powerplay by lofting Akash Madhwal for a six down the ground, and then flicking him for a boundary through deep mid wicket.

MIDDLE OVERS: Spinners keep KKR in check

Phase score - 65/2 [RR: 7.22, 4s/6s: 6/1]

Gurbaz departed soon after the powerplay, unable to take advantage of the start he had managed. However, Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi had managed quick starts. The duo struggled to find the big shots against the spin trio - Maheesh Theekshana, Riyan Parag and Wanindu Hasaranga - as often as they would've liked, allowed Royals to keep the scoring rate in check. Rahane, who was battling cramps, eventually got out under-edging a round arm delivery by Parag to the 'keeper.

DEATH OVERS: Russell attack powers KKR past 200

Phase score: 85/1 [RR: 17.00, 4s/6s: 6/7]

Andre Russell, who has been struggling for form this season, was sent in to bat in the 13th over. He took some time to get going, but unleashed the brute force of his hitting skills in the death overs. Even as Raghuvanshi struggled to get the big shots going, Russell smashed 41 runs in 12 balls in the death overs. His brutal hitting also forced bowlers to bowl wide of his hitting arc, as they conceded several extra wide runs to add to KKR's total. Rinku Singh added to their misery by smashing two sixes and a boundary in the last over to help KKR past the 200-run mark.

Rajasthan Royals

POWERPLAY: Jaiswal, Parag power RR to strong start despite early stutter

Phase score - 59/1 [RR: 9.83, 4s/6s: 8/3]

Rajasthan Royals were in trouble early on, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi getting dismissed in the opening over after cracking a boundary. Kunal Singh Rathore failed to make use of the opportunity, struggling against Moeen Ali's offbreaks, and was eventually dsimissed for a five-ball duck. However, Yashasi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag ensured that Royals didn't fall back. They took the attack to Harshit Rana, who struggled with his lines in the powerplay.

MIDDLE OVERS: Parag, Hetmyer stage fightback

Phase score - 96/3 [RR: 10.67, 4s/6s: 5/7]

KKR got their nose firmly ahead in the contest right after the powerplay, with Varun Chakaravarthy dismissing Dhruv Jurel and Hasaranga for ducks, soon after Moeen chipped in with the wicket of Jaiswal as RR slid to 71 for 5 by the eighth over. However, Parag and Hetmyer smartly controlled the chase from thereon. After a slow start to their partnership, they picked up pace, with Parag smashing Moeen for five sixes in the 13th over.

In terms of the match, Jofra Archer bowled a frugal penultimate over, costing only 8 runs to his team in a contest where the opposition, Mumbai Indians, had already crossed the 200-run mark.

DEATH OVERS: Dubey's blitz falls short

Phase score: 50/3 [RR: 10.00, 4s/6s: 3/2]

Harshit Rana, who struggled in the powerplay, returned to bowl two stingy overs in the death and even accounted for the wicket of Riyan Parag, who holed out in the deep on 95. Shubham Dubey, who struggled to get the momentum going early on in his innings, smashed two sixes and a boundary in the last over to bring the equation down to 3 runs off 1 ball. However, Vaibhav Arora held his nerves and bowled a yorker. Royals' attempt to steal two runs off it didn't prove successful eventually.