IPL 2025: Russell hits 57 off 25 in narrow KKR win over Royals

Kolkata Knight Riders remain in contention for the Indian Premier League end of season play-offs after beating Rajasthan Royals by just one run.

Chasing 207, Rajasthan required 22 runs from Vaibhav Arora’s final over, and Shubham Dubey smashed two sixes and a four to leave them needing three from the final ball.

Dubey struck the last delivery to long-off, and Rinku Singh’s throw beat Jofra Archer’s attempt to return to the non-striker’s end for a two and resulting tie and super over.

The defending champions would have hoped for a less nervy finish, having had their opponents 71-5 in the eighth over.

The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for a two-ball four before Moeen Ali removed Yashasvi Jaiswal (34) and then Kunal Rathore for a duck.

Rathore was the first of three batters to be dismissed without scoring, as Varun Chakravarthy bowled Dhruv Jurel and Wanindu Hasaranga within the space of three balls.

The visitors’ fortunes were turned by Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer, who put on a partnership of 92.

Parag struck eight sixes in his 45-ball innings, including six consecutive boundary clearances, the first five from Moeen’s 13th over.

The pairing was broken by Harshit Rana, who had Hetmyer top-edge to Sunil Narine for 29 then saw Parag hole out to Arora for a 45-ball 95.

Kolkata’s total of 206-4 was a team effort with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35), Ajinkya Rahane (30), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44) all chipping in, before Andre Russell (57 off 25) and Singh (19 off 6) finished the innings strongly, setting a score that Rajasthan couldn’t quite chase down.

Kolkata move up one place to sixth, two points off Punjab Kings in the final play-off position but having played one game more.

Rajasthan remain in eighth with three wins and nine losses and are out of play-off contention. (BBC)