IPL 2019, RR vs KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 8 wickets

D Kulkarni to C Lynn, Starts with a good length delivery on leg. The ball comes in after pitching. Lynn tries to flick it but misses and gets hit on the thigh.

We are back for the chase. Out walk the opening pair of Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn for Kolkata. Rajasthan to start with pace. Dhawal Kulkarni to take the new ball.

So, not going to be a straightforward chase in any way. Kolkata will have to be cautious and pick their moments. The wicket is slow and turning, and the home team has some quality spinners in their ranks. Let's see how the second half unfolds.

Harry Gurney is caught for a chat. He says that there was a little bit assistance from the pitch as the ball was not coming onto the bat. On his impressive debut, Gurney says practice is the key. Adds that sometimes the ball grips and sometimes it does not, but it is important to bowl according to the plan. Tells everyone that the experience of playing here is special. Admits that he has played international cricket but the atmosphere here is fantastic.

Kolkata took advantage of the slow nature of the surface and didn't really let the runs leak as such, but they'd feel they could have done better in trying to prevent the occasional boundary which let up the pressure off the home side. Harry Gurney starred on debut with 2/25, while Krishna took the other wicket but was slightly expensive. The spin trio of Chawla, Narine and Kuldeep might not have got wickets, but were economical in their combined 12 overs.

Rajasthan have posted a below par total on the board. This could be either of two things - either the surface is a difficult one or it's just that the hosts couldn't adapt well enough. But, given what a quality batsmen Steven Smith and Jos Buttler are, you'd find it hard to buy that these two players couldn't get used to the conditions. Rajasthan lost Rahane early, but Buttler and Smith were keeping the scoreboard ticking and scored 72 runs between them, albeit not in their usual pacey manner. The latter went on to remain unbeaten on 73, which could be the difference maker in the end in this game.

H Gurney to S Smith, A low full toss this time, outside off, Smith tries to repeat the last shot but this time finds short third man. A single to end the innings. Rajasthan end on 139/3!

H Gurney to S Smith, FOUR! Superbly placed! Gurney delivers a full ball outside off, Smith brings down an angled bat and finds the gap between short third man and backward point.

H Gurney to S Smith, This is tremendous bowling at the death by Gurney. Serves a leg cutter outside off, Smith is completely foxed as he pushes inside the line and misses.

H Gurney to S Smith, Walks out of the crease and forces a full ball through covers for a couple of runs.

H Gurney to S Smith, Beaten! Beautifully bowled by Harry Gurney. Switches to over the wicket and lets across a slower one outside off. It's on a length and Smith swings and misses.

H Gurney to Ben Stokes, Gurney speeds in from 'round the wicket and angles across a back of a length ball outside off. Stokes skips down the track and hits it firmly down to long off for a run.

Harry Gurney to bowl the final over.

P Krishna to Ben Stokes, A length ball on middle, Stokes heaves it down to wide long on for one. 12 from the over.

P Krishna to Ben Stokes, The batsman goes for the pull but misses it completely.

P Krishna to Ben Stokes, A low full toss outside off, it's driven through extra cover for a couple of runs.

P Krishna to Ben Stokes, A beamer this time. First warning for the bowler. High full toss on off, Stokes under edges his attempted shot as his eyes are off the ball. It goes behind to the keeper on one bounce. Free Hit loading...

P Krishna to S Smith, Called a wide! A harsh call. Smith shuffles across the stumps and Krishna delivers a low full toss down leg. The Aussie fails to make any connection and the keeper fumbles. The batsmen cross.

P Krishna to S Smith, EDGY FOUR! A yorker wide outside off, Smith reaches out for it and the ball takes the toe end of the bat before racing past the diving keeper for a boundary at third man.

P Krishna to Ben Stokes, Wow, what a delivery! Top nut. Prasidh takes all the pace off this shorter one and lands it on middle and off. Stokes is a month early into his pull shot and the ball never arrives. Misses completely and takes a blow on his body. The ball deflects on the off side and Smith calls his partner through for a leg bye.