IPL 11: Kolkata beat Rajasthan, Qualifier 2 to be held in Hyderabad

To make Kolkata a place in the final, there is a fight against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 on Friday. The winners of Qualifier 2 will play against Chennai Super Kings in the title match on Sunday.

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Kolkata : Kolkata Knight Riders has made it to the Qualifier 2 by defeating Rajasthan Royals by 25 runs in the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), played at Eden Gardens Stadium on Wednesday at their best performance. Earlier, batting first, Kolkata scored a challenging score of 169 for seven wickets in 20 overs. This score was defended by the bowlers and Rajasthan did not let them go ahead with 144 runs in four wickets.

Team Winning in Qualifier 2 will face Chennai

Rajasthan have lost out of the IPL due to defeat. On the other hand, to make Kolkata a place in the final, there is a fight against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 on Friday. The winners of Qualifier 2 will play against Chennai Super Kings in the title match on Sunday. At one stage, Kolkata's team had lost three wickets on 24 runs, but Captain Kartik, with the help of four fours and two sixes in 38 balls, managed 52 runs in the half-century, and then finally Russell managed only 25 balls In the innings, with the help of five sixes and three fours, in the form of an unbeaten 49, Kolkata gave Kolkata a worthy score.

Rajasthan were also on the way to victory, but as soon as Ajinkya Rahane (46) and Sanju Samson (50) were out, the team was forced to lose. After chasing the target of 170 runs, captain Rahane and Rahul Tripathi gave good starts to Rajasthan. Both of them had added 47 runs in the five overs for the first wicket. Piyush Chawla, who came in the sixth over, broke the partnership with Rahul on his own ball on the first ball.

Rajasthan needed 44 runs in 19 balls

Captain got the support of his star batsman Samson after Rahul. Both shared a 109-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahane's innings was brushed by Kuldeep Yadav on the total of 109 Rahane missed the half-century off four runs. He faced 41 balls and put a six in addition to four fours. Samson completed his half-century with a run in the third ball of the 17th over, but on the fifth ball of the same over, he returned to the pavilion as a victim of Chawla. From here, Kolkata returned to the match. Rajasthan needed 44 runs in 19 balls which they could not make.

Heinrich Klassen (18 not out) tried very much but in the last over, the bowlers of Kolkata did not let them play big shots. Stuart Binny returned in three balls without opening the pavilion. Chawla took two wickets for Kolkata. Kuldeep and famous Krishna's share came one wicket each.

Rajasthan won the toss

Earlier, Rahane invited Kolkata to bat after winning the toss. Sunil Narine hit the first ball but he missed the next ball and Krishnappa Gautam stumped him to Klassen. Gautam caught Robin Uthappa (3) in his next over to give Kolkata another blow to his own ball.

Nitish Rana could also score just three runs and Jopra was caught by Archer on the hands of Jaidev Unadkat. The three Kolkata batsmen had returned to the overall score of 24. The other opener Chris Lynn was present on the crease though. They tried to make the innings with patience, but Shreyas Gopal kept them on his own ball. Lynn scored 18 runs off 22 balls with two fours. Their wicket dropped to a total of 51.

Kolkata scored 53 runs in the last four overs 

Captain Kartik and young batsman Shubhaman Gill took over the team from here. Both shared a 55-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Gill played an impressive innings of 28 runs in 17 balls with three fours and a six. His wicket was part of Archer Karthik teamed up with Russell to bring the team to a total score of 135 and on this score Rahane gave the impressive catch to Rajasthan Royals with his superb catch at the close of Ben Laughlin. Although the lack of captain, Russell did not give up and run fast. In the last four overs, Kolkata scored 53 and lost two wickets. Gautam, Archer and Laughlin took two wickets each for Rajasthan. Gopal got a breakthrough