Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Indian Premier League 2020 Match 54: As it happened

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Match 54 of the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Today, Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Steve Smith's Rajasthan Royals in Dubai.

Image Credits: Twitter/@IPL

After skipper Eoin Morgan notched up a half-century, Pat Cummins bagged a four-wicket haul to help Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) thrash Rajasthan Royals by 60 runs in the two sides' last league stage fixture of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Asked to bat first, KKR lost opener Sunil Narine for a duck before his opening partner Shubman Gill (36) and Ravi Tripathi (39) joined forces and stitched a crucial stand of 72 runs for the second wicket.Subsequently, captain Eoin Morgan led from the front by smashing a quick-fire unbeaten knock of 68 runs off just 35 balls to help KKR post a good total of 191 for seven in their stipulated 20 overs.

In reply, Pat Cummins proved to be a tormentor-in-chief for KKR as he bagged four wickets while conceding just 34 runs to reduce Rajasthan Royals to a score of 41 for five inside Powerplay.Shivam Mavi (two for 15), Varun Chakravarthy (two for 20) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti (one for 24) all shone with the ball to help their side restrict Rajasthan to a score of 131 for nine.

Jos Buttler and Rahul Tewatia were the notable contributors for Rajasthan  with 35 and 31 runs, respectively.

With the victory, the Kolkata franchise has also knocked the Steve Smith-led side out of this season's lucrative T20 tournament.

Here are the highlights:

01 November 2020

23:12 IST

WICKET!! Knight Riders removed Jofra Archer (6) and Kartik Tyagi (2) in quick succession. While Archer was caught by Shivam Mavi on a Kamlesh Nagarkoti delivery in the 18th over, Kartik Tyagi departed after handing a return catch to Mavi on the third ball of 19th over. RR 129/9 (19 overs)

23:01 IST

16 runs in the last two overs for Rajasthan Royals. Shreyas Gopal (19) cleared the man at point on the fourth ball of 17th over by Shreyas Gopal before he played a reverse sweep on the last ball of the over for another boundary. RR now need 69 runs from 18 balls.RR 123/7 (17 overs)

22:41 IST

WICKET!! Varun Chakravarthy strikes for Rajasthan Royals. Rahul Tewatia departs for 27-ball 31 after being caught by Dinesh Karthik behind the wicket on the fourth ball of 15th over. RR 107/7 (14.6 overs)

22:40 IST

Rajasthan Royals reach 96/6 after 13 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders. 

22:26 IST

WICKET!! Rajasthan Royals have now lost their sixth wicket in their chase of 192 runs. Jos Buttler (35) is caught by Pat Cummins at deep midwicket on the fourth delivery of 11th over by Varun Chakravarthy. RR 81/6 (11 overs)

22:16 IST

Jos Buttler (22) smashed the second ball of the eighth over by Kamlesh Nagarkoti to deep square leg for four runs before he cleared long-on on the first ball of the next over by Sunil Narine for a maximum. Rahul Tewatia (11), on the other hand, sent the last ball of Nagarkoti over towards extra cover for a boundary. Meanwhile, RR have crossed the 50-run mark.RR 66/5 (9 overs)

22:07 IST

Eight runs off the last two overs. Rahul Tewatia (4) and Jos Buttler (9) are currently batting at the crease as rajasthan Royals now need 147 runs from 78 balls.RR 45/5 (7 overs)

21:58 IST

WICKET!! Pat Cummins is on a roll today as he has claimed his fourth wicket of the match. Riyan Parag falls for a duck after being caught by Dinesh Karthik on the last delivery of the fifth over.RR 37/5 (5 overs) 

21:53 IST

WICKET!! Rajasthan Royals have lost their fourth wicket inside four overs. Sanju Samson (1) is caught behind the wicket by Dinesh Karthik on the third delivery of the fourth over by Shivam Mavi. RR 32/4 (4 overs)

21:51 IST

WICKET!! Two wickets in an over for Pat Cummins. After removing Ben Stokes for 18, Steve Smith departed cheaply for four runs after being clean bowled by Cummins on the last delivery of the third over. RR 32/3 (3 overs)

21:41 IST

WICKET!! Ben Stokes was caught by Dinesh Karthik behind the wicket on the first ball of the third over by Pat Cummins. RR 28/2 (2.3 overs)

21:28 IST

WICKET!! Robin Uthappa fell cheaply for six after being caught by Kamlesh Nagarkoti at deep backward square leg on the last delivery of the first over by Pat Cummins.RR 19/1 (1 overs)

21:27 IST

Robin Uthappa and Ben Stokes have walked down the crease to begin RR's chase. Pat Cummins to open the attack for KKR. 

21:17 IST

INNINGS BREAK!!

21:16 IST

KKR set 192-run target against RR!

21:02 IST

Eoin Morgan (45) is approaching a half-century, while Pat Cummins is currently batting at six at the other end as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have now crossed the 150-run mark. KKR 158/6 (18 overs)

20:51 IST

WICKET! Andre Russell, who was looking good at the crease, went back to the pavilion after scoring 11-ball 25 runs after being caught by substitute fielder David Miller at cover on the third ball of 16th over by Kartik Tyagi. KKR 146/6 (16 overs)

20:47 IST

Skipper Eoin Morgan (40) smashed Shreyas Gopal for two boundaries and as many sixes on back-to-back deliveries before Jofra Archer was hammered by Andre Russell (13) for a six and four runs in the next over. KKR 132/5 (15 overs)

20:28 IST

WICKET!! Rahul Tripathi (39) and Dinesh Karthik (0) fell in quick succession. While Rahul departed on the last delivery of 12th ovr by Shreyas Gopal following a running catch by Robin Uthappa near long-on, Karthik was taken by Steve Smith at short midwicket on the third ball of the next over by Rahul Tewatia. KKR 100/5 (13 overs)

20:25 IST

14 runs off the last two overs. KKR skipper Eoin Morgan pulled the fourth delivery of the 10th over by Kartik Tyagi for a six over fine leg. Knight Riders reached the score of 84/3 at halfway mark. KKR 84/3 (11 overs)

20:05 IST

WICKET!! Two wickets in an over for Rahul Tewatia. Shubman Gill fell for 24-ball 36 runs after being caught by Jos Buttler at deep midwicket on the third ball of 9th over by Rahul Tewatia, while Sunil Narine departed for duck after being taken by Ben Stokes at wide long-on on the last ball. KKR 74/3 (9 overs)

20:03 IST

Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi continue to stand strong at the crease at their respective scores of 34 and 27. The duo has also brought up a 50-run stand for the second wicket after KKR lost Nitish Rana for a duck in the first over. KKR 64/1 (7 overs)

19:56 IST

Good last two overs for KKR as they added 28 runs in it. Shubman Gill (27) hammered Shreyas Gopal for two back-to-back boundaries in the fourth over, while Rahul Tripathi (16) too picked up two boundaries off the over before smashing the last delivery of the next over by Ben Stokes to deep backward square leg for a maximum. KKR 43/1 (5 overs)

19:54 IST

14 runs off the last two overs. Shubman Gill (14) smashed the third delivery of the second over by Aaron Finch to long-leg for four runs before he smashed the Rajasthan Royals bowlers fo two more boundaries. KKR 15/1 (3 overs)

19:32 IST

WICKET!! Jofra Archer gave breakthrough to Rajasthan Royals as early as in the very first over. Nitish Rana departed for duck after being caught by Sanju Samson behind the stumps on the second ball. KKR 1/1 (0.5 overs)

19:22 IST

Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana have walked down the crease to begin KKR's innings.Jofra Archer to open the proceedings for RR. 

19:18 IST

Rajasthan Royals are heading into the clash with an unchanged Playing XI. KKR have made two changes in their playing XI. Andre Russell has returned to the team and he has replaced Lockie Ferguson, while Shivam Mavi comes in place of Rinku Singh. 

19:17 IST

LINEUPS:

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Sunil Narine, Eoin Morgan(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Andre Russell, Rahul Tripathi, Pat Cummins, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Robin Uthappa, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson(w), Steven Smith(c), Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Varun Aaron, Kartik Tyagi

18:53 IST

 Rajasthan Royal win the toss, opt to bowl against Kolkata Knight Riders !

18:52 IST

The toss for KKR vs RR clash will take place shortly.