Our destiny is in our hands: Jacques Kallis
KOLKATA: Kolkata Knight Riders may not have been consistent so far in this year's IPL but chief coach Jacques Kallis believes it's a matter of playing two good games which can seal a playoff berth for them.
The Dinesh Karthik-led side lost two back-to-back matches to Mumbai Indians but revived their campaign by posting this season's highest total of 245/6 in an away match against Kings XI Punjab.
The win means KKR'S fate is hanging in balance with two more rounds left in the roundrobin league.
"Destiny is still in our hands. If we play two good games of cricket, we are through to the playoffs and that's what we are interested in. It's about taking one game at a time and play well tomorrow," Kallis told reporters on the eve of their match against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, are on a roll with a hat-trick of wins and with same points (12).
"We are not really worried about what the rest of the teams are doing," Kallis said acknowledging that it's a matter of executing their skills on the ground.
"Both teams are coming to confidence, so it's going to boil down who executes better on the day. It's pretty even when it comes to how the teams are coming into this game."
KKR are ahead of RR on net run-rate but Kallis said: "Winning will be the priority."
Jos Buttler has been in imperious form with five half centuries in a row to boost Rajasthan Royals' campaign and Kallis said they have a plan in place for all opposition batsmen.
"He certainly has been consistent and in good form. So we obviously have to make sure we have some good plans." MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane has been fined Rs 12 lakh after his team maintained slow-over rate during their Indian Premier League match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium here.
On Sunday, the Rahane-led side outclassed the defending champions Mumbai Indians by seven wickets, courtesy a whirlwind unbeaten 94 by opener Jos Buttler who stuck his fifth consecutive fifty in the tournament.
"Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate during their IPL match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on May 13," an IPL release said on Monday.
"As it was his team's first offence of the season under the IPL'S Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Mr. Rahane was fined Rs 12 lakh," the release said. MUMBAI: Having secured a hat-trick of wins, Rajasthan Royals will look to carry the winning momentum against Kolkata Knight Riders in their next IPL fixture and inch closer to a play-off berth, said RR seamer Dhawal Kulkarni.
Rajasthan kept alive their play-off hopes by beating defending champions Mumbai Indians by seven wickets with two overs to spare last night.
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side will face two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders tomorrow at Edens Gardens.
“All the games are crucial for us. Maybe, in the next game we've got a good chance to beat Kolkata Knight Riders. With the momentum that we've got, I'm sure we'll be able to do that,” said Kulkarni after the Royals' victory at the Wankhede Stadium last night.
Rajasthan Royals climbed up to the fifth spot with 12 points in as many games following their third victory on the trot achieved riding on opener Jos Buttler's blistering unbeaten knock of 94 in 53 balls – his second successive, unconquered 90-plus score in the competition.
On the move to promote Buttler to the top of the order, Kulkarni said: “I think it was a collective decision of the captain, (head of cricket) Zubin (Bharucha), (mentor) Shane (Warne) and (batting coach) Amol (Muzumdar). So he's doing well for us and I hope he continues to be in that form for us.”
Fast bowler Jofra Archer also contributed with early strikes in successive balls to send back in-form Mumbai Indians opener Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Rohit Sharma.
Kulkarni said he was not surprised by the impact made by Archer against Rajasthan.
“I feel a bowler who's bowling at 145 (kmph), it's very difficult for a batsman to face that - especially with the way he bowls, the high arm action that he's got. Wankhede's wicket has got good bounce and good carry. He's been bowling consistently well. But today it was special," he said.
"The wicket assisted him really well. The way he was getting that bounce! I just wished that he got a hat-trick.”
MI'S Australian all rounder Ben Cutting felt the hosts were 20 runs short of a winning total.
“To be honest I'm probably the wrong person to ask - I faced four balls and I didn't bowl. From what I saw, it is always a little difficult with little bit of dew coming in batting second.
"We were probably 20 runs short with the bat. And that was the difference,” he said when asked about the track on which his side were restricted to 168 for 6.
He said it was a difficult task to stop an in-form batsman like Buttler.