Yashasvi Jaiswal blazed away to an unbeaten 47-ball 98 as Rajasthan Royals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets in their Indian Premier League match here on Thursday.
Kolkata Knight Riders scored 149 for eight after being asked to bat first.
Venkatesh Iyer top-scored for KKR with 57 off 42 balls after openers Jason Roy (10) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (18) could not convert their starts at the Eden Gardens, both falling to seasoned left-arm pacer Trent Boult.
In-form leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal finished with excellent figures of 4/25, continuing his fine run of form.
In reply, Jaiswal, along with skipper Sanju Samson 48 not out off 29 balls), fired with the bat to help RR complete a chase of 150 in just 13.1 overs and with nine wickets to spare at the Eden Gardens.
"This is always in my mind, to go out there and play well. It was a nice feeling today. It is not like everything I wanted happens, I prepare well and I trust myself. I know the results will come," Jaiswal, who raced to his fifty in a record 13 balls, said at the post-match presentation.
"The winning shot was a great feeling, I wanted to finish the game and winning the game has been my motto. I'm blessed and grateful, I'm trying my best.
"I think the run rate was the only thing in our mind, me and Sanju bhai were only talking about finishing the game quickly."
RR consolidate third place
Before he ended up playing one the best knocks of this IPL, Jaiswal saw his opening partner Jos Buttler getting run out owing to a mix-up, after which the onus was on him to help the team.
"I think it happens in the game, it gives me responsibility to do even better. And Sanju bhai came and said 'keep playing my game, and not think about that run out'," player of the match Jaiswal said.
RR are currently placed third in the standings with six wins and as many defeats after 12 games, the thumping win pushing their run rate to a very healthy +0.633.
Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders: 149/8 in 20 overs (Venkatesh Iyer ; Yuzvendra Chahal 4/25, Trent Boult 2/25).
Rajasthan Royals: 151/1 in 13.1 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 98 not out, Sanju Smason 48 not out).
