Laxmi Ratan Shukla turned in a winning knock as the Kolkata Knight Riders finished their campaign in the Indian Premier League on a high, scoring a thrilling four-wicket win over the Rajasthan Royals in Durban on Wednesday.
Shukla made an unbeaten 48 in a low-scoring game as the Knight Riders posted only their third win in the tournament, and in the process ended the 2008 champions' hopes of progressing to the semi-finals.
Fast bowler Charl Langeveldt had sent down four incisive overs, claiming three wickets for 15 as the Royals were restricted to just 101 for nine in a batting card which also featured three run-outs.
Rajasthan, however, swung the game back their way with a strong performance with the ball as the Knight Riders crashed to 45 for six.
But Shukla put on an unbeaten 57 for the seventh wicket with Ajit Agarkar (14 not out) as the Knight Riders ran out winners.
Kolkata had begun the chase well with Brendon McCullum hammering Munaf Patel for consecutive boundaries in his first over.
But Munaf responded by dismissing Sourav Ganguly for a duck, while McCullum was trapped in front by Amit Singh in the second over.
Yashpal Singh, Brad Hodge, David Hussey and Shoaib Shaikh fell in quick succession, but Shukla took charge and together with Agarkar put the Knight Riders on the path to victory.
Earlier, the Royals had cashed in on a first over of spin from Hodge, but imploded when Langeveldt made early inroads.
Naman Ojha clobbered Hodge for three sixes in the first over, taking a total of 22 from it.
But Langeveldt, playing his first IPL match, effected a turnaround by sending back Ojha (22) and his partner Rob Quiney - both caught behind - in his first two overs.
In between, batsman Swapnil Asnodkar was run out, while Niraj Patel was Langeveldt's third victim.
Johan Botha too was also scalped inside the first 10 overs as the Royals crashed to 59 for five inside the first 10 overs.
Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja attempted a revival, but that brief effort ended when Pathan was run out in the first over after the strategic break.
At the end, Shane Warne chipped in with a knock of 18 which got the Royals to the 100-run mark, a milestone which had looked highly unlikely
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