Rana again leads KKR to big win

Our Correspondent

Jaipur, April 18

Nitish Rana's all-round show helped Kolkata Knight Riders ease past Rajasthan Royals and climb to the top of the points table in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday. Rana took two crucial wickets before playing a steady innings with the bat to take KKR to a comfortable seven-wicket win.

With Royals cruising at 54, Rana broke a flourishing opening partnership by dismissing captain Ajinkya Rahane in the seventh over. He then removed Rahane's opening partner, D'Arcy Short, who was looking to break free after getting set.

Three other batsmen got starts but regular wickets kept breaking the partnerships and Rajasthan managed to get to 160. 

KKR's innings started with big-hitting Australian Chris Lynn falling on the third ball of the first over. But Sunil Narine, who had a horrible day with the ball, made up with the bat to give Kolkata a fast start. He partnered an aggressive Robin Uthappa to take his team to 70 before getting run out in the ninth over. Rana then played a calm innings, building partnerships with Uthappa and captain Dinesh Karthik to take his team to victory.

Kolkata lead the points table with six points from five matches, while Rajasthan are fifth with four points from four matches.