Indore: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defended their best-ever highest total in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 31 runs to boost their qualification hopes.
The hosts got off to a good start in the run chase, but soon losat Chris Gayle (21 runs) and Mayank Agarwal (9) in two consecutive balls in the sixth over.
Lokesh Rahul (66) and Aaron Finch (34) were the top contributors for the 2014 finalists, but soon both of them walked back to the pavilion.
With this win, KKR have got back to the top four in the IPL table, whereas KXIP were handed their fifth loss of the season.
KXIP 101-4 after 10 overs
It looks like game set and match for KKR. After good start Andre Russel managed to pick up 3 wickets to put KXIP on back foot. Narine picked up important wicket of KL Rahul to turn the match in KKR favour.
WICKET! This is getting more worse for KXIP. in form KL Rahul heads back to the pavillion after scoring half century. Narine bowls carrom ball and Rahul tries to go for slog sweep, but the ball finds and edge and hits it pad before deflecting to stumps A miracle will now save KXIP from suffering a heavy defeat.
WICKET! Karun nair has to go, Russel gets his third wicket. Russel bowls off-cutter and Karun Nair lofts the ball in the air, Krishna ran from long on and went with both the hands over the head, but the ball got stuck in left hand
WICKETS! It's Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal who have been dismissed by Andre Russel in two consecutive balls. KXIP run chase gets more difficult.
KXIP 51-0 after 5 overs
Strong start by KL Rahul and Chris Gayle. Rahul has been the attacking among the two, while Gayle is slowly getting to his grove. Will both the openers set the momentum for run chase.
IFrameIFrame
KKR innings
Brilliant batting from opener Sunil Narine and skipper Dinesh Karthik helped KKR post match winning score of 245-6 in alloted 20 overs at during Indian Premier League match at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Saturday.
Sunil Narine scored 75 runs of 36 balls, while Dinesh Karthik scored 50 runs of 23 balls .
KKR openers Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn provided a good start as both of them put on 50-run stand for the opening wicket. After Lynn's wicket, Robin Uthappa (24 runs of 17 balls) and Narine put on 75 run stand for the second before both the batsman were dismissed by Andrew Tye to bring KXIP back into the match.
Andre Russel and skipper Dinesh Karthik then decided to up the scoring rate as both the batsmen clobbered the KXIP bowlers to all the parts of the ground. Both the batsmen put on 76 run stand for the 4th wicket.
Dinesh Karthik completed his half century as KKR put up massive score on board and it will need special knock from KXIP batsmen to pull off the run chase.
KKR 245-6 after 20 overs
WICKET! Nitish Rana departs. Slower ball from Mohit Sharma and Rana slices it straight into the air as substitute fielder David Miller runs down from long off and takes a simple catch.
KKR 130-3 after 12 overs
Two big wickets in the 12th over-That of Sunil Narine (75) and Robin Uthappa have got the hosts back into the game. It was Andrew Tye at it yet again, as the Aussie bowler has been the lone wicket-taker in this match so far, with all the three wickets.
KKR 106-1 after 10 overs:
After Chris Lynn's dismissal, it was Sunil Narine who decided to go after KXIP bowler. The West Indian finally reached to his second half century of this years IPL with a single in the 9th over .
WICKET! Huge breakthrough for KXIP as Andrew Tye dismisses Chris Lynn. The KKR opener tried to pull away short of length ball around leg , but the ball clips his pad and hits the stumps.
RR 47-0 after 5 overs:
Indore: With Sunrisers Hyderabad already qualifying for play-offs and Chennai Super Kings most likely to make it through as well, the match between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders will be important, as victory for either of the side will see them seriously challenging for the play-off spot.
Kings XI Punjab currently occupy the third spot and victory in next couple of games, will see them make it to the play-offs. For KXIP the partnership between KL Rahul and Chris Gayle will be crucial at top of the order. With both the openers giving good start at the top, the onus will be on rest of the KXIP batsman to equally contribute with the bat for setting up match winning total.
KXIP bowling unit, has been top class. Australian all-rounder Andrew Tye and Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman have been bowling well in power play as well as the death overs while skipper R Ashwin alongside Axar Patel have been stopping the flow of runs in the middle over.
For Kolkata Knight Riders consistency has been the biggest issue throughout the tournament so far. After making winning start to the season, KKR has constantly failed to carry on the winning momentum. The Dinesh Karthik-led side lost two back to back games against Mumbai to lose momentum in the tournament and also leaving them wit inferior run-rate.
The form of openers Sunil Narine and Chrius Lynn will be crucial for the away side. In middle order Robin Uthappa, skipper Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana will have to chip in with runs.
In the bowling department pacers Prasidh Krishna has been impressive and once again KKR will berelying on him to bowl well. In the spin department Sunil Narine, Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush Chawla will have to contain the run flow in the middle overs.
With only couple of matches to play, both teams will look for crucial win and improve on their run rate to remain in contention for play-off spot.
When is the match?
The match is scheduled to start at 4 P.M. IST on Tuesday, May 12th.
Where is the match?
The match will take place at Holkar Stadium, Indore.
Live telecast and timings:
With Star India now acquiring the media rights from Sony Pictures Network India for the upcoming season, the matches will be telecast on various Star Sports channels.
Live streaming:
The matches can be viewed live on Hotstar.com or on the Hotstar app.
