Tambe hat-trick sees Royals claim astonishing win

Cricket365
May 5, 2014

The Rajasthan Royals pulled off a brilliant win against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday, winning by 10 runs after claiming six wickets in eight balls for just two runs as KKR collapsed spectacularly.

It was the first time in IPL history that a side made a century opening stand and still lost the chase, with Shane Watson taking three wickets in an over and then Pravin Tambe bagging a hat-trick in the next over.

The Royals batted first and put on 170 for six, with Karun Nair again going well and scoring 44, while Watson contributed with the bat too, adding 31 off 20 balls. Sanju Samson continued to impress by scoring 37, while Ajikya Rahane put on 30.

The Kolkata chase was all smooth sailing, with Gautam Gambhir batting through his dire form to score a rare half century, while opening partner Robin Uthappa also put on a half ton as they made 121 together.

Gambhir was the first of the six wickets to fall, in the 15th over. He nicked Watson behind for Samson to catch, and then Uthappa followed for 65 two balls later. The other wicket in that over Was Andre Russell, who had earlier in the match bowled to Watson while pretending to pull out of his run up. When Watson bowled him, the Aussie just glared at the West Indian, saying nothing.

Tambe, famously 42 years of age and without a regular cricket gig aside from the IPL, bowled the next over and removed all his wickets for ducks. He actually got the hat-trick in two balls, as the first was a wide. But Manish Pandey got stumped, so it counted as a wicket.

Then came Yusuf Pathan, caught and bowled, and finally Ryan ten Doeschate, playing instead of Jacques Kallis. The former Holland player was distraught at being trapped LBW, and took ages to leave the field.

After that collapse, going from 121/0 to 123/6, not even Shakib-al-Hasan's cameo could save them. It got a bit tight when Tim Southee gave up 16 runs in the 19th over, but Watson bowled the final one for a bunch of singles.

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