Cummins' career best keeps KKR's playoff hopes alive

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has kept Kolkata Knight Riders' hopes of reaching the Indian Premier League playoffs alive after thrashing Rajasthan Royals by 60 runs.

Rajasthan, already out of top-four finals contention, won the toss and chose to field at Dubai's International Cricket Stadium.

That decision backfired when Kolkata smashed 7-191 with England white-ball specialist Eoin Morgan belting an undefeated 68 off 35 balls, including six sixes and five boundaries. 

Leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia claimed 3-25 from his four overs and English paceman Jofra Archer an economical 1-19.

In reply, Rajasthan struggled to 9-131 off their 20 overs with Aussie speedster Cummins taking 4-34.

"It was a weird one. I think I've bowled better before," Cummins said after play.

"A few wickets and a couple of nice ones. Ben Stokes is a dangerous player for them, he's in form for them so happy to see the back of him. He's hit us around a few times.

"It's just one of those days – some days you bowl well and get smacked around and other days not so well and you get a couple of wickets."

Jos Buttler top-scored for Rajasthan with a 22-ball 35.

"I don't think we could have done any more today," Morgan said. 

"Whatever happens from here on is in the hands of cricketing gods."

Kolkata have 14 points from their 14 matches and improved their net run rate but the team's fate depends on remaining games - Delhi Capitals versus Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday, and Sunrisers Hyderabad against Mumbai on Tuesday.

At Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Chennai Super Kings cruised to a nine-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab thanks to an unbeaten 62 from Ruturaj Gaikwad.

The defeat put an end to Punjab's playoff hopes while Chennai were already out of contention.

Gaikwad hit six fours and one six in his 49-ball innings to be named man of the match, leading Chennai to 1-154 in response to Punjab's 6-153 with seven balls to spare.

Faf du Plessis contributed 48 from 34 balls to the successful chase.

Put into bat, Punjab's blushes were saved by Deepak Hooda who came in at No.6 and smashed 62 not out from 30 balls after the top half of the order gave up regular wickets.

Openers KL Rahul (29) and Mayank Agarwal (26) failed to get out of the twenties, falling to pacer Lungi Ngidi. 

Chris Gayle (12), Nicholas Pooran (2), Mandeep Singh (14) and James Neesham (2) went even more cheaply.

Ngidi was the pick of the Chennai bowlers finishing with 3-39.

"It is disappointing," Punjab captain Rahul said. 

"We had a lot of games in our pockets and we couldn't get over the line and we only have ourselves to blame."