Moeen & De Kock Power gave KKR their first win
For the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), it wasn't an issue at all in their recent IPL matchup against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Stepping in for an unwell Sunil Narine, Moeen Ali put on a fantastic show with the ball, and then opener Quinton de Kock made the chase look easy. A quick rundown of how KKR notched up their first win of the season.
Spinners Weave Their Magic
On a sluggish pitch in Guwahati, KKR's spin bowlers were simply too good. Moeen Ali, playing his first game for KKR, worked perfectly in tandem with the experienced Varun Chakravarthy. Together, they gave away just 40 runs in their eight overs and picked up four crucial wickets (Moeen 2-23, Varun 2-17). They completely tied down the Royals' batters, making it tough to score freely. This dominant display meant KKR didn't even need the services of Andre Russell with the ball.
RR Stumble
Rajasthan tried a few things, like sending Wanindu Hasaranga up the order, but nothing really worked against the KKR spinners. Local lad Riyan Parag, captaining RR, hit a couple of spectacular sixes that got the crowd going, but he couldn't build a big innings. Only some late hits from Dhruv Jurel (33) helped RR scramble past 150, finishing on a below-par 151 for 9.
De Kock Seals it style
Chasing the target, Quinton de Kock took control right away. He attacked the new ball and kept the scoreboard ticking. While Moeen Ali had a tougher time with the bat and got run out, de Kock ensured there were no dramas. He smashed an unbeaten 97 off just 61 balls, looking comfortable throughout. He shared a solid partnership with youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi to guide KKR home with eight wickets and plenty of balls to spare. His dominance meant Andre Russell wasn't needed with the bat either!
A comfortable day for KKR: Their spinners and de Kock finished the job with style, handing RR their second straight loss.
