Yashasvi Jaiswal hammers KKR out of Eden, and possibly out of IPL
A superb unbeaten 98 by Yashasvi Jaiswal saw Rajasthan Royals beat Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens yesterday, hugely strengthening its case for a place in the four-team play-offs and at the same time, throwing the latter’s chances into jeopardy.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) badly hurt their chances of qualifying for the four-team play-offs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by losing convincingly to the Rajasthan Royals in their home ground of Eden Gardens, disappointing a packed home base.
A whirlwind unbeaten 98 off just 47 balls, including the fastest half-century in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, by Yashasvi Jaiswal saw the game taken away from the Knights.
The Royals’ overhauling of the Knights’ fighting total of 149 in just 13.1 overs plunged the latter’s net run rate to -0.357. This crucial metric will likely make the differentiating factor in KKR’s not making the play-offs.
With only the last two matches of the 14 left, even winning them would not be enough—KKR will have to depend on several other teams’ results.
Yesterday, KKR batted first and scored 149 for the loss of eight wickets. Venkatesh Iyer top-scored with 57 while Yuzvendra Chahal took four wickets for the Royals. Other than Jaiswal’s 98, Sanju Samson scored a quick-fire 48, in just 29 balls.
