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Jaipur: The unpredictability of the T20 format was once again in focus as cricket's lesser-known mortals slayed fancied faces at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday.
Rahul Shukla is hardly known, Siddharth Trivedi is over the hill and Kevin Cooper is yet to make a name for himself.
Yet, when they checkmate players like Jacques Kallis, Gautam Gambhir and Eoin Morgan, the format surely must take some of the credit.
Shukla, Trivedi and Cooper took wickets at vital times to peg Kolkata Knight Riders back, giving Rajasthan Royals a well-deserved 19-run victory in the bargain.
Chasing a competitive 145 for victory, the Riders were left struggling at 55 for five after 10 overs. Morgan, however, gave them hope with a typically breezy 51 off 38 balls.
But it was all over when he was bowled by Cooper off the first ball of the 19th over, the ninth wicket to fall.
Royals themselves did not quite get going in their first match at home, managing 144 for 6. None of their batsmen, barring Ajinkya Rahane (36 off 34 balls) and Brad Hodge (unbeaten 46 off 31 balls) to some extent, could settle down long enough to play meaningful innings.
With KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir quite expectedly choosing to field first, the task was always going to be uphill for the hosts. Things did not quite go Royals' way, with Brett Lee spitting fire right from the first over and Sunil Narine using his guiles later.
The much-hyped entry of Shane Watson in this edition of the tournament lasted just 10 balls. The Aussie powerhouse, who opened the innings with Rahane, continued with his indifferent form, struggling for most of his stay at the wicket.
Watson had replaced Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kushal Perera in the playing XI. This forced another change, with Udaipur-based wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik replacing another local boy Ashok Menaria. Shaun Tait came in for Samuel Badree as the Royals saw some bite in the wicket.
Rahul Dravid did play a couple of great shots, but failed to read the turn in a Rajat Bhatia slower one. Stuart Binny showed the power of his shoulder, but fell to a deceptive pace of Lakshmi Ratan Shukla.
Brief scores
Rajasthan Royals 144 for 6 (Hodge 46*, Narine 2-28)
Kolkata Knight Riders 125 (Morgan 51, Trivedi 3-23, Cooper 3-15)
Result Rajasthan Royals won by 19 runs
Points Rajasthan Royals 2, Kolkata Knight Riders 0
MOM Siddharth Trivedi (Rajasthan Royals)
