Twitter Reactions: Ferguson, Mavi lead the way as KKR thrash hapless RR by 86 runs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) saved their destructive bowling performance in the IPL 2021 for the last league game. Mumbai Indians (MI) had a keen eye on the result of the game between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and KKR. But the Men in Pink disappointed them (and their own fans) by putting up yet another poor show with the bat and to make things worse for MI, lost by a huge margin.

It was Sanju Samson who won the toss and opted to bowl first. KKR started off sedately with Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer getting used to the pitch. Once they got their eyes in, it was fun to see them go for their shots. The duo added 79 runs for the opening wicket with Iyer scoring 38 runs off 35 balls before being castled by Rahul Tewatia.

Nitish Rana was dismissed soon, however, it was the 41-run stand between Rahul Tripathi and Gill that infused the much-needed momentum into the KKR innings. The latter also got to his half-century continuing his good form from the last couple of matches. Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik then provided the finishing touches to the innings propelling KKR to 171/4 in their 20 overs.

RR’s regular bowlers did very well but strangely they ended up using seven options and that cost the team. The part-timers Glenn Phillips (17 runs in 1 over) and Shivam Dube (18 runs in 2 overs) conceded a lot of runs.

Proper Harakiri from RR batters

Along with MI, Punjab Kings also had hopes from the Royals as they needed to chase the score in 11 overs to keep KL Rahul and his men alive in the competition. Well, the RR batters committed proper harakiri and by the time, 11 overs were completed, they had lost seven wickets with around 60 runs on the board. None of their top six batters apart from Shivam Dube even crossed the 10-run mark.

It was a dominating performance from KKR bowlers as they delivered in unison not for the first time this season. Particularly, it was the pace of Lockie Ferguson and Shivam Mavi that wrecked havoc as the duo equally shared seven wickets between them to leave RR shocked. At 35/7 after nine overs, they were close to registering the lowest ever team total in the IPL history.

Thanks to Rahul Tewatia, they avoided the record but they were never going to chase down the score after the batters’ disappointing show. Tewatia played a fighting knock which only bettered his prospects at the mega auction for the next season. He scored 44 runs off 36 balls and was the last man to get out for RR as they were folded for just 85 runs in the 17th over.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Lowest totals by RR in IPL:

58 vs RCB in 2009
81 vs KKR in 2011
85 vs KKR, Today
90/9 vs MI in 2021
92 vs RCB in 2010#KKRvRR

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 7, 2021

For #MI to qualify, they need to beat #SRH by 170+ runs and no chance for qualifying if they are going to chase.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 7, 2021

Mumbai Indians will need to win by 172 runs tomorrow vs SRH to qualify for the play offs.

— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) October 7, 2021

Sanga is taking Mahela home with him!!! https://t.co/c67jJVM3pO

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 7, 2021

Superb all round performance by #KKR and terrible one by #RR. Don’t know the mathematical possibility of #MI making it to the play-offs, but must be tending towards zero I would imagine. #KKR’s surge from a near hopeless position after phase 1 is a remarkable story

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 7, 2021

Where does the buck stop? #RR

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 7, 2021

#KKR you did it in style! Der aaye per kya durust aaye! Shivam Mavi chose a very important game to show his potential. #KKRvRR #RRvsKKR

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) October 7, 2021

#KKRvRR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/FUFpHqDuKg

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 7, 2021

Sensational bowling this from @KKRiders. In the second half of this @IPL, #KKR have turned out to be a transformed unit. Breathtaking stuff this! Seems like they have got the rhythm and balance at the right time of the competition! #KKRvRR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/kKAMWiGhTL

— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) October 7, 2021

🤦🏼‍♂️

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) October 7, 2021

Just 2 overs of spin used by @rajasthanroyals in their 20 overs

Have a feeling @KKRiders might bowl 12 overs of spin in their 20.

Whose tactic is better, we'll have to wait and watch!#KKR #RR #KKRvRR #IPL2021 #VIVOIPL

— Abhinav mukund (@mukundabhinav) October 7, 2021