Rajasthan Royals into the semi-finals

SRK’s dream comes to an end

Faced with a modest target of 148, Royals had to endure some initial reverses, but Mohammad Kaif (34, 31b, 4x4) and Man-of-the-Match Yusuf Pathan (42, 18b, 5x4, 3x6) ensured the team won by six wickets with 21 balls to spare.

Earlier, After Kolkata posted a disappointing 147 for eight off their 20 overs, a double wicket maiden from Umar Gul looked to have turned things in their favour. But, Pathan and Mohammad Kaif (34 off 31) steadied the ship and saw Rajasthan comfortably home.

It is all over for Kolkata Knight Riders. For the Shah Rukh Khan-owned side the inaugural DLF-Indian Premier League is almost over though it has two more matches left.

Kolkata Knight Riders have lost seven out of the 12 games they have played in the competition. Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab have won seven games each. Only Deccan Chargers and Bangalore Royal Challengers, with nine defeats each, have lost more games than Kolkata Knight Riders.

The scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders: S. Butt lbw b Patel 24, Md. Hafeez c Asnodkar b Patel 4, S. Ganguly c Kaif b Trivedi 32, D. Hussey b Pathan 11, D. Das b Tanvir 31, L.R. Shukla c Asnodkar b Tanvir 15, W. Saha (not out) 11, A. Agarkar (run out) 5, U. Gul c Kaif b Tanvir 7, I. Sharma (not out) 2; Extras (lb-2, w-3): 5. Total (for eight wkts. in 20 overs): 147.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-40, 3-71, 4-95, 5-118, 6-123, 7-129, 8-142.

Rajasthan Royals bowling: Tanvir 4-0-26-3, Patel 4-1-22-2, Watson 4-0-36-0, Trivedi 3-0-26-1, Warne 3-0-21-0, Pathan 2-0-14-1.

Rajasthan Royals: G. Smith c Saha b Gul 24, S. Asnodkar c Saha b Sharma 5, S. Tanvir c Butt b Gul 13, Md. Kaif (not out) 34, S. Watson b Ganguly 19, Y. Pathan (not out) 48; Extras (lb-4, w-3): 7. Total (for four wkts. in 16.3 overs): 150.

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-42, 3-42, 4-69.

Knight Riders bowling: Dinda 4-0-32-0, Sharma 3-0-23-1, Agarkar 3-0-30-0, Gul 3.3-1-30-2, Ganguly 2-0-24-1, Shukla 1-0-7-0.