IPL: Rajasthan Royals Out Of Semi-Final Race

IPL: Rajasthan Royals Out Of Semi-Final Race

Kolkata were celebrating another win as they closed their tournament in style.

©REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Kolkata Knight Riders 102-6 (Shukla 48no) beat
Rajasthan Royals 101-9 (Ojha 22, Langeveldt 3-15) by four wickets
Indian Premier League, Durban

The Rajasthan Royals' chances of retaining their Indian Premier League title disappeared as they went down by four wickets to the Kolkata Knight Riders in Durban.

In a low-scoring match that featured more run outs than sixes, the Knight Riders overhauled the Royals' 101 for nine in the final over with three balls to spare, Laxmi Shukla playing a vital innings of 48 not out to steer them to their second win in a row.

Charl Langeveldt made his first start of the tournament for the Knight Riders and immediately showed what he was capable of by taking three for 15, removing openers Naman Ojha (22) and Rob Quiney (1) as well as Niraj Patel (14).

The flurry of run outs started with Swapnil Asnodkar, before his team-mates Yusuf Pathan and Tyron Henderson perished in similar circumstances as Agit Agarkar (2-15) and Sourav Sarkar (1-15) picked up the other three wickets to fall.

The Knight Riders appeared determined to hand the Royals the match, however, with Brad Hodge (6) and Shaikh (6) adding to the run out tally before Shukla hit 48 in 46 balls, adding a priceless half-century stand with Agit Agarkar (13 not out) after he had been at the other end when Shaikh was run out.

The Royals gave everything, Munaf Patel taking two for 14 with Amit Singh and Johan Botha the other wicket-takers as they reduced their opponents to 45 for six, but the Knight Riders were too strong, the Royals losing their way in the field at the death, missing run out chances and giving away overthrows to make the Knight Riders' task easier than it could have been.

© Croclet World 2009

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