The highly anticipated clash between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings has been abandoned due to rain. The two teams were facing off at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
After winning the toss, Ajinkya Rahane elected to bat first despite the cloud cover. His KKR team got off to a poor start, losing Finn Allen and Cameron Green in the early stage of the innings.
Xavier Bartlett was the star of the show for PBKS, taking both wickets in his opening spell of 2/9. Bartlett swung the ball and got the outside edge of both batters, and the keeper completed a comfortable catch.
When rain halted the match, KKR were at 25 runs for the loss of 2 wickets after 3.4 overs. Rahane`s decision to choose to bat first with the possibility of rain was surprising.
Speaking at the toss, the KKR skipper Rahane said that the wicket looked good to score runs and put the opposition under pressure. However, the KKR top order struggled against the pace and swing early on in the innings.
`We are going to bat first. Looks like a good wicket, a little bit of the drier side, but it`s a very good wicket and slightly less covering of grass as well. It`s all about having that belief and confidence. It`s about winning those small moments.” Ajinkya Rahane said after winning the toss.
PBKS skipper was happy to bowl first, largely due to the cloud cover, and admitted that he was confident of chasing on this ground.
“I was supposed to bowl as well. So kind of happy with the decision he took.” Shreyas Iyer said.
KKR get their first point of the season
No result in the game meant that KKR opened their account in the points table. After losing their first 2 matches, Ajinkya Rahane`s team got the first point of the season.
Meanwhile, PBKS remain unbeaten in the IPL this season, having won their opening two matches. The Punjab-based franchise moved to the top of the table at 5 points from 3 matches.
PBKS will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad next, while KKR will go against the Lucknow Super Giants.
