Kolkata win knocks out champions

Charl Langeveldt produced a fine display with the ball for Kolkata, finishing with 3-15

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Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Charl Langeveldt helped Kolkata Knight Riders finish their IPL campaign on a high with victory over defending champions Rajasthan Royals, who exit the competition as a result.

Shukla made an unbeaten 48 in a low scoring game as the Knight Riders sneaked home by four wickets to record only their third win in this year's tournament.

Former South Africa seamer Langeveldt had earlier claimed 3-15 as the Royals were restricted to just 101 for nine batting first in an innings which featured three run outs.

Rajasthan swung the game back their way with a strong performance with the ball as the Knight Riders crashed to 45 for six.

But Shukla put on an unbeaten 57 for the seventh wicket with Ajit Agarkar (14 not out) as the Knight Riders ran out winners.

The Knight Riders had begun their chase well with Brendon McCullum hammering Munaf Patel for consecutive boundaries in the first over.

But Munaf responded by dismissing Sourav Ganguly for a duck, while McCullum was trapped lbw by Amit Singh in the second over.

Yashpal Singh, Brad Hodge, David Hussey and Shoaib Shaikh all fell in quick succession to leave Kolkata in disarray at 45 for six, but Shukla took charge and together with Agarkar put the Knight Riders on the path to victory.

Earlier, Rajasthan's innings got off to the perfect start as Kolkata's decision to open the bowling with the part-time off-spin of Hodge backfired.

Naman Ojha duly clobbered the Australian for three sixes, taking a total of 22 from the first over.

But Langeveldt, playing his first IPL match, effected a turnaround by sending back Ojha (22) and his partner Rob Quiney - both caught behind - in his first two overs.

In between, number three Swapnil Asnodkar was run out, while Niraj Patel was Langeveldt’s third victim.

Johan Botha was also dismissed inside the first 10 overs as the Royals crashed to 59 for five.

Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja attempted a revival, but their brief alliance ended when Pathan was run out in the first over after the strategic break.

Warne chipped in with a knock of 18 which at least got the Royals to the 100-run mark, but it was not enough as Kolkata overcame their early wobble to record a rare success.