Thaindian News

Kolkata, April 17 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders cantered to their third back-to-back win to shoot atop the Indian Premier League (IPL) points table with a clinical eight wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals here Sunday.

Lustily cheered by around 45,000 spectators at the majestic Eden Gardens, the Knights shot out the Royals for a miserly 81 and then reached their target with 6.1 overs to spare without much fuss.

Skipper Gautam Gambhir despatched Shaun Tait to the point fence to carry KKR to 85/2 in 13.5 overs, and bolster their points tally to six from four games.

Needing to score at an easy asking rate of 4.1, the home side lost their star opener Jacques Kallis (0) off the very second ball. The veteran top-edged Tait and Ross Taylor ran in from square-leg to take the catch close to the crease.

The other opener, Manvinder Bisla (9), departed in the seventh over, making it 31/2, but Gautam Gambhir (35 not out off 35 balls) and Manoj Tiwary (30 off 26 balls) put on an unconquered 54-run partnership that saw the Knights through without any more losses.

Earlier, Gmabhir won the toss and put the Royals in on what looked like a good batting wicket.

Shane Watson (11) and Amit Paunikar (15) gave the Royals a sound start, racing to 24 in the fourth over, but then the rot started.

The two openers were back in consecutive overs, and the procession of batsmen continued thereafter. In the end, only four Royals willowers managed to reach double figures.

Pacer Laxmipathy Balaji (3-15) and Bangladesh skipper Shakib al Hasan 2-21) were the most successful bowlers.

Royals now have four points from as many games.