3 minute read

Australian opener Aaron Finch made his third low score in four IPL innings but Kolkata Knight Riders still snapped a five-match losing streak.

Kolkata Knight Riders have won their first match in six in the Indian Premier League, though neither of their Australian stars were able to contribute much to ending that barren run.

Aaron Finch was dismissed for his third single-figure score in four innings while Pat Cummins was not selected.

KKR restricted Rajasthan Royals to 5-152 with only Sanju Sansom (54 off 49 balls) breaking the stranglehold exerted by Sunil Narine (0-19 off four overs), Anukul Roy (1-28 off four) and Umesh Yadav (1-24 off four).

Kolkata began badly. Finch, off balance with his head out of line, inside-edged onto his stumps for a seven-ball four as he attempted to cut.

Finch, playing for a record ninth IPL franchise, has scores of 7, 58, 3 and 4 this season. Prior to the match he had admitted: "My game has been a hit and a miss so far. I am focusing on trying to hit straight and stay on a bit longer. T20 is a brutal game for batters and bowlers and you have to be honest with yourself to be successful."

Cummins, meanwhile, was the matchwinner in KKR's previous win, but with the bat, hitting an astonishing 56 not out off 15 balls.

With the ball, in his four matches, the Australian captain has taken 4-190 at an economy rate of 12-an-over.

Tim Southee, Cummins' main rival for a place, was hit for a similar 46 from his four overs by Royals, but snared the key wicket of Jos Buttler and valuable one of Riyan Parag.

After Finch's exit KKR lost Baba Indrajith to reduce them to 2-32, but skipper Shreyas Iyer (34 from 32 balls) settled the innings. When he departed Nitish Rana (48 not out from 37) and Rinku Singh (42 not out off 23) took then home.

Rana ended the match with a six as KKR finished on 3-158, winning with seven wickets and five balls to spare.