IPL 2018: Twitter Reacts As Kolkata Knight Riders Thrash Rajasthan Royals In Eliminator

Continuing their fine form, Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 25 runs in the Eliminator to qualify for the second Qualifier.

Chasing 170, the Royals were off to a great start. Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi came out all guns blazing to settle the early nerves of the big game. The duo added 47 runs for the first wickets off just 30 balls before Piyush Chawla broke the stand. The leg-spinner gave his side the much-needed breakthrough by sending back Tripathi for 20.

The dismissal, however, did not bring any respite for the Knight Riders as Rahane and Sanju Samson stitched together a brilliant partnership. They added 62 runs for the second wicket to lay the foundation for the chase. Kuldeep Yadav broke the stand by dismissing Rahane for 46. But the required rate continued to increase and the Royals suffered a body blow when Chawla dismissed a well set Samson in the 17th over.  The Royals needed 43 runs off the last three overs. With 34 needed off the last over, the Royals could only manage 8.

Earlier in the game, Dinesh Karthik’s fifty and Andre Russell rescued the Knight Riders from a disastrous start, guiding them to a respectable total. Asked to bat first, the Knight Riders were off to a disastrous start.

K Gowtham dismissed Sunil Narine and Robin Uthappa while Jofra Archer accounted for Nitish Rana to reduce the Knight Riders to 24 for 3. Chris Lynn and Dinesh Karthik then stopped the rot for a while. The duo added 27 runs before Shreyas Gopal sent back Lynn.

Karthik and Shubman Gill took the score past the 100-run mark.  Archer broke the stand by dismissing Gill which brought Andre Russell on the crease. The hard-hitting batsman took the attack to the opposition, slamming  49 off just 25 with the help of 3 fours and 5 sixes. Karthik, on the other hand, scored 52 off 38 to post a respectable 169 for 7.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:

Noooooooooooooooo !!!!!

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) May 23, 2018

https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/999333163959648256

haar kar jeetne wale ko baazigar ki team kehte hain.#KKRvRR

— sunil the cricketer (@1sInto2s) May 23, 2018

Rajasthan let slip golden opportunity. Rahane & Samson holing out when asking rate was still around 10 an over were debilitating blows to weak batting side. One of them had to bat through. Clever captaincy by Karthik to have held back spinners. And Prasidha Krishnan is a star!

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 23, 2018

Justice to not get further ahead. Same mistakes from the RR top order.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) May 23, 2018

It is better to get bowled out for 120 in 13-14 rather than keep wickets in hand and lose.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) May 23, 2018

Javon Searles. KKR actually imported its Stuart Binny.

— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) May 23, 2018

The only thing that turns when Piyush Chawla bowls a leg-spinner is Piyush Chawla himself.

— The Lying Lama 2.0 (@KyaUkhaadLega) May 23, 2018

After the sputtering start, KKR will take this score happily. Brilliant from Russell. Powerplay overs hold the key for Rajasthan. If they don't lose more than a wicket, have a chance

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 23, 2018

You little beauty !! Spin to win boys. So proud back here in Melbourne of my @rajasthanroyals spinners. We’ve all worked so hard on plans & mindset & it’s paying off tonight !!! Come on lads, get ruthless now ?

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) May 23, 2018

Hey @Russell12A .. Can you tell me your work out routine and protein shake brand? Thanks #KKRvRR @KKRiders

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) May 23, 2018

Russell is in the league of Lloyd, Richards, Greenidge, Collis King, Matt Hayden, Kapil Dev where power hitting is concerned

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 23, 2018

Things that are getting too expensive :

3. Diesel
2. Petrol
1. Unadkat#KKRvRR

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 23, 2018

And not so young @DineshKarthik is in the zone since March, displaying the form of his life. Rajasthan have lost the stranglehold they had. If KKR get past 160, will be a very difficult chase

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 23, 2018

KKR cracking under pressure in powerplay: much like both SRH and CSK yesterday. Desperately need partnership(s) to get 150-odd to be in game

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) May 23, 2018