Guwahati: Quinton de Kock struck a magnificent 97 not out on a tacky Barsapara wicket, anchoring Kolkata Knight Riders’ chase to perfection as they secured a dominant eight-wicket win against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL clash Wednesday.
Opting to bowl, KKR’s disciplined bowling attack, led by their spin duo Varun Chakravarthy (2/17) and Moeen Ali (2/23), restricted Rajasthan Royals to a below-par 151/9. In response, De Kock remained 97 not out from 61 balls, his knock laced with eight fours and six sixes, as KKR comfortably chased down the target in 17.3 overs.
Despite the challenging nature of the surface, De Kock displayed controlled aggression, timing the ball beautifully while ensuring KKR’s chase remained on track. The chase was never in trouble, with the required run rate hovering around a run-a-ball. KKR lost Moeen Ali (5) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (18) early, but De Kock held one end firm, finding an able partner in young Angkrish Raghuvanshi 22 (17 balls). The duo stitched together an unbroken 83-run partnership that came off just 44 balls, sealing the first win of the season for the defending champions. The Proteas keeper-batter was at his fluent best, preferring ground strokes over aerial risks, yet still finding boundaries with ease. He took calculated risks, fully aware of the modest target. He took the attack to Jofra Archer, smashing him for a four and a six in the same over. He brought up his half-century in just 35 balls, swiping Wanindu Hasaranga for a towering six over wide long-on — his third of the innings.
