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Veteran leg-spinner Pravin Tambe's hat-trick inspired Rajasthan Royals to a stunning comeback 10-run victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, in Ahmedabad, on Monday.
- Scorecard
Set 171 for victory, Kolkata were cruising at 121 for no loss in the 15th victory but suffered an unbelievable collpase, losing six wickets for eight runs to finish on 160 for six.
After being in to put, Karun Nair and Ajinkya Rahane gave Rajasthan Royals a good start as they put 52 runs for the opening wicket.
Rahane scored a brisk 30 from 22 balls before he was run out in the seventh over, while Nair hit a quickfire 44 from 35 balls before was stumped off Shakib Al Hasan.
Mystery spinner Sunil Narine bowled a good spell, claiming two wickets for 28 runs in the space of four overs.
He claimed the wickets of Sanju Samson (37) and Shane Watson (31) with the latter falling to a brilliant catch from Surya Kumar Yadav on the long-on boundary.
Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa put KKR in the driver's seat with a huge 121-run stand for the opening wicket.
Uthappa went on the attack right from the start, hitting 65 from 52 balls, while Gambhir stroked a quickfire 54 from 34 balls to lay the perfect foundation for the visitors.
Rajasthan captain Shane Watson triggered the Kolkata collapse with three wickets in his third over.
Gambhir was the first wicket to fall when he was caught behind for 54 and his partner Uthappa also fell a couple of balls later when he holed out to deep midwicket.
Andre Russell, who was promoted to No. 3, missed a slower ball and was bowled for a duck.
Tambe claimed a hat-trick in his fourth and final over to destroy KKR.
Manish Pandey was stumped down the leg side off a wide before Yusuf Pathan lobbed a simple catch back to the bowler off the next delivery.
Tambe completed his hat-trick as he trapped Ryan ten Doeschate leg before wicket as KKR slipped to 123 for six, losing six wickets for two runs in the space of eight deliveries.
Tambe finished with three for 26 and Watson claimed three for 21 as Kolkata finished on 160 for six, losing by 10 runs.
KKR lost their fifth game in the tournament. On the other hand, Rajasthan registered their fifth victory from seven games to stay third with 10 points.