Quinton de Kock’s 97 Powers KKR to Dominant IPL Victory

KKR Bounce Back in Style: de Kock’s Blazing 97 Powers Dominant Win Over Rajasthan Royals

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) turned the tables after a shaky season opener, clinching a commanding eight-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati. Quinton de Kock’s explosive unbeaten 97 (61 balls) stole the spotlight, steering KKR to chase down RR’s modest 151 with 15 balls to spare. Here’s how the action unfolded.

Spin Wizardry Restricts Royals to 151/9
Despite missing star spinner Sunil Narine, KKR’s tweakers dominated the middle overs, throttling RR’s batting lineup. Stand-in spinner Moeen Ali (2-23) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2-17) turned the screws, conceding just 56 runs while snaring five wickets between overs 7-15. RR’s batters faltered, managing only 22 boundary runs in this phase. Yashasvi Jaiswal (29) and Riyan Parag (27) showed flashes but fell prey to KKR’s disciplined spin attack. Dhruv Jurel’s late 33 injected some hope, but Harshit Rana’s death-over strikes (3-33) sealed RR’s fate at 151/9.

de Kock’s Masterclass: Middle-Over Magic
The game pivoted in KKR’s favor during the middle overs, where de Kock’s calculated aggression outshone RR’s struggles. While RR limped to 56/5 in this phase, KKR raced to 78/2, thanks to de Kock’s crisp shot selection. The South African opener hammered 8 fours and 6 sixes, effortlessly navigating RR’s spin-heavy attack. Ajinkya Rahane (22) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (22*) provided steady support, ensuring KKR stayed ahead of the rate.

Powerplay Contrasts Set the Tone
RR’s openers began briskly, scoring 54/1 in the powerplay, including Jaiswal’s six off Vaibhav Arora. However, KKR’s response was cautious yet controlled. Despite Jofra Archer’s fiery spell (2 runs in the first over), de Kock’s fearless pulls and sweeps against Maheesh Theekshana kept KKR steady at 40/0.

Death Overs: KKR Cruise Home
Needing just 34 off 30 balls, de Kock shifted gears, smashing Archer for a four and two sixes in the 18th over to seal the win. His 97* marked the highest score of IPL 2024 so far, earning him Player of the Match honors.

Key Takeaways

• KKR’s Spin Supremacy: Moeen and Varun’s precision stifled RR’s middle order.
• RR’s Missed Opportunities: Poor shot selection and a lack of partnerships cost the Royals dearly.
• de Kock’s Redemption: After a quiet opener, the Proteas star proved his mettle with a match-winning knock.

What’s Next?
Rajasthan Royals face Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati on March 30, while KKR head to Mumbai for a high-voltage clash against the Mumbai Indians on March 31.

Brief Scores:
Rajasthan Royals: 151/9 in 20 overs (Jurel 33; Varun 2-17, Moeen 2-23)
Kolkata Knight Riders: 153/2 in 17.3 overs (de Kock 97*, Raghuvanshi 22*; Hasaranga 1-34)

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