IPL highlights, KKR vs RR: Clinical Kolkata Knight Riders ease past Rajasthan Royals

Kolkata Knight Riders brightened their chances to reach the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 playoffs with a six-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday. Chasing 143, KKR reached the target in 18 overs with Chris Lynn scoring 45 and Dinesh Karthik 41*. KKR now have 14 points from 13 games while RR have 12 points from as many games. Earlier, RR, after scoring 59 runs in the first four overs, lost 10 wickets for 79 runs to end up on 142 all out against Kolkata Knight Riders. Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets for 20 runs to dismantle RR batting line-up. Get highlights of Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, here. (SCORECARD | LIVE STREAMING INFO)

23:28 hrs IST: That’s it! Karthik seals it with a six off Archer. KKR reach 14 points and their playoff hopes are still alive and kicking. RR can qualify too.

23:23 hrs IST: FOUR! Russell gets another, this time against Archer. He gets another at third man

23:18 hrs IST: FOURS! Russell goes after Unadkat, first he cuts him to point and then gets one at third man. KKR 129/4 (17.0 Ovs)

23:14 hrs IST: After his third wicket, Stokes goes for another appeal against Karthik. But the ball as going down leg stump. KKR 119/4 (16.0 Ovs)

23:09 hrs IST: OUT! Chris Lynn c Anureet Singh b Stokes 45(42) [4s-5 6s-1] KKR 117/4 (15.2 Ovs)

Lynn departs as Stokes strikes but is it too late? It was short slower ball as Lynn goes for the big one but top edges to Anureet Singh at deep point

23:05 hrs IST: FOUR! That’s a smart one from Karthik. he floats the delivery from Sodhi to third man and there is no foelder there. KKR 116/3 in 15 overs

22:59 hrs IST: FOUR! Archer comes into the attack and gets punished by Lynn off the first ball. He gets width and cuts the bowler through point. Lynn gets another off the last ball off the over as the ball takes the edge and races to third man boundary. KKR 109/3 in 14 overs

22:54 hrs IST: FOUR! Lynn goes after Unadkat and pulss him for a boundary. six runs off the over. KKR 89/3 in 11 overs

22:48 hrs IST: An economical over from Sodhi, just three runs off it. RR need such overs and also wickets. KKR 83/3 in 11 overs

22:44 hrs IST: FOUR! Karthik joins the party with a boundary off Unadkat at extra cover. The required run rate is just ovr six now. Two quick wickets will dent KKR at this point. KKR 80/3 in 10 overs

22:36 hrs IST: OUT! Nitish Rana lbw b Ish Sodhi 21(17) [4s-2 6s-1] KKR 69/3 (8.2 Ovs)

That’s it! Sodhi strikes this time. The spinner’s delivery turns inward sharply and hits Rana’s pads. The original decsion was not out but RR called it right by going for DRS. They are still in fight in this match

22:34 hrs IST: SIX! Rana is in a hurry today. He steps out against Krishnappa Gowthma and smokes the ball over extra cover. KKR 68/2 in 8 overs

22:28 hrs IST: FOUR! Rana’s wrist work sees the ball get pst backward point. Ish Sodhi, the bowler, however comes back hard and gives away only two more runs in the over. KKR 57/2 in 7 overs

22:22 hrs IST: Ben Stokes comes to bowl in his third over. IPL’s costliest player could make the difference here for RR. he has picked two in his first two overs. He gives away just five. KKR 51/2 in 6 overs

22:18 hrs IST: FOUR! Nitish Rana upper cut off Archer misses Samson’s hand and goes to the boundary. The regular wickets haven’t dented KKR’s spirit it seems. KKR 46/2 in 5 overs

22:13 hrs IST: OUT! Uthappa c R Tripathi b Stokes 4(6) KKR 36/2 (3.5 Ovs)

Stokes does the job again. It’s that short ball from the Englishman. Uthappa went for a pull but was caught by Triptahi at mid-wicket

22:07 hrs IST: SIX! that was a huge one from Chris Lynn. He makes space for a short delivery from Jofra Archer and dislodges it over backward square leg. he follows it up with a boundary in the very next ball. KKR 32/1 in 3 overs

22:03 hrs IST:OUT! Narine departs, trying to slog ben stokes he holes out at covers and gives RR a foothold in the game. KKR 21/1.

21:59 hrs IST: Kolkata have started like they mean to finish the match early, Narine slogging Krishnappa Gowtham for six off the very first ball and then hitting him for another six and a couple o more boundaries in the first over. KKR 21/0 after the first over.

21:42 hrs IST: OUT! Jaydev Unadkat is clean bowled by Prasidh for 26 to bring Rajasthan innings to a close. They have failed to bat their allotted 20 overs. KKR need 143 to win.

21:34 hrs IST: OUT! Jofra Archer holes out in the deep, Andre Russell with the wicket. RR 135/9

21:30 hrs IST: OUT! Sodhi goes! Perhaps a little unlucky, the ball bounced off his boot and lobbed to Karthik who made no mistake. Prasidh with the strike. RR 128/8

21:24 hrs IST: Another Productive over for RR, with 10 runs coming off it. Unadkat taking fight to KKR spinners. RR 128/7 after 16.

21:18 hrs IST: Perhaps against the run of play 11 runs come off the fifteenth over, Unadkat driving and pulling Mavi for a four and a six. RR 118/7.

21:12 hrs IST: OUT ! another one goes! Ben Stokes caught and bowled by Yadav for 11. It’s been a brilliant spell by Kuldeep a wicket in every over so far. RR 107/7.

21:09 hrs IST: OUT ! and the procession continues. Gowtham departs, caught by Karthik off the bowling of Krishna. Can RR bat their 20 overs? RR 103/6.

21:03 hrs IST: Kuldeep ends another over with a wicket in it. his introduction has turned the tables completely RR 100/5 after 12.

21:00 hrs IST: OUT! another one bites the dust! Stuart Binny not able to read Kuldeep’s wrong-un and he is stumped by Karthik. RR 96/5.

20:59 hrs IST: Out! Sanju Samson is out LBW to Sunil Narine, Umpire gave it not out on the field and upon review the decision is overturned by the third umpire. RR need to stem the flow of wickets here. RR 95/4.

20:54 hrs IST: Ben Stokes is the next batsman in for RR, he needs to get his eye in quickly and get on with it.

20:49 hrs IST: OUT! huge wicket! Jos Buttler departs for 39, Kuldeep Yadav is spinning a web here, RR 85/3

20:47 hrs IST: Despite going for a four in the over, it’s a fine over by Prasidh Krishna. Just six runs come off the over and KKR are fighting their ay into the match. Just 26 runs have come off the last five overs after the first four yielded 59.

20:40 hrs IST: Spin is the dominant force at Eden gardens and you get the feeling it could decide tonights match as well. Sanju Samson the next batsman in. RR 79/2.

20:38 hrs IST: Out! Ajinkya Rahane is bowled by Kuldeep Yadav, his poor run continues in IPL. RR 76/2

20:35 hrs IST: Another good over by Andre russell, he keeps both Rahane and Buttler quiet conceding just singles off his Second over. RR 74/1 after seven.

20:28 hrs IST: Quiet over considering what has gone on previously. Just five off the last powerplay over. Ajinkya Rahane has replaced Tripathi at the crease. RR 68/1.

20:25 hrs IST: OUT! Tripathi is caught by Karthik off the bowling of Andre Russell, much needed breakthrough for KKR. RR 63/1.

20:19 hrs IST: Sunil Narine into the attack and even he isn’t spared the punishment, he is fit for a four by both Tripathi and Buttler through the off side. RR 59/0 after four overs.

20:16 hrs IST: All six balls of the third over are dispatched either to or over the boundary by Jos Buttler, he is showing no sign of stopping. RR 49/0 after three overs.

20:11 hrs IST: Pressure released by Prasidh Krishna, he taken for 19 runs in the over by Rahul Tripathi. a Six and three boundaries coming off the last four balls.

20:05 hrs IST: Good first over by Shivam Mavi, he has had both batsmen in trouble. Could have got a wicket off the first ball, Tripathi dropped by Rana at first slip.

19:59 hrs IST: Two RR openers are out on the pitch, Rahul Tripathi to open with Jos Buttler, Shivam Mavi to open for KKR.

19:54 hrs IST: Jos Buttler has been called up by England for the first Test against Pakistan, big blow to Rajasthan should they reach playoffs.

19:39 hrs IST: Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Jos Buttler(w), Ajinkya Rahane(c), Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Rahul Tripathi, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jaydev Unadkat, Ish Sodhi, Anureet Singh

19:31 hrs IST: Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav

19:30 hrs IST: Kolkata Knight Riders have opted opt to bowl against Rajasthan Royals

19:29 hrs IST: We are minutes away from the toss.

19:17 hrs IST: Toss will be interesting, spinners have fared better at Eden Gardens than the pacers. Toss in little more than 10 minutes.

19:10 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.

Jos Buttler has been RR’s most in form batsman, having scored five consecutive half centuries and becoming only the second man after Virender Sehwag to achieve the feat.

All-rounders from both teams could play a pivotal role too. Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have been consistent throughout the tournament while Ben Stokes has shown glimpses of his class in last couple of matches with both bat and ball.

Spinners have fared better in Kolkata than fast bowlers. The result of the match could boil down to how troika of KKR spinners - Narine, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav - perform compared to Krishnappa Gowtham, Shreyas Gopal and Ish Sodhi.

Narine needs just three more wickets to take 50 IPL wickets at the Eden Gardens, he will become only the second bowler in IPL to take 50 wickets after Lasith Malinga took 50 at the Wankhede in Mumbai.