MI bowlers defended 31 runs in the last 5 overs even though KKR had 6 wickets in hand.
Opting to bowl first, KKR bundled out the defending champions for 152 in 20 overs. All-rounder Andre Russell demolished the lower order, claiming 5 wickets by conceding 15 runs in his two overs while Pat Cummins (2-24) accounted for a couple of scalps.
It was an average batting performance from MI. Suryakumar Yadav was the top-scorer with 36-ball 56, which included 7 fours and 2 sixes.
In reply, Knight Riders were cruising in the chase as the duo of Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana put on 72 runs for the opening wicket. Rahul Chahar broke the partnership by removing Gill on 33 and then the leg-spinner ran through KKR’s top-order.
Chahar also dismissed Rana (57), Rahul Tripathi (5), Eoin Morgan (7) to reduce KKR to 122/4. Afterwards, the MI bowlers were all over the opposition batsmen even though Kolkata 31 needed off 30 with 6 wickets in hand.
In the death-overs, Jasprit Bumrah conceded only 12 runs from his last two overs whereas Trent Boult dismissed Andre Russell (9), Pat Cummins (0) and gave away only 4 runs in the final over to restrict KKR to 142/7.
Cricket fraternity was left speechless by MI's comeback in the latter half of KKR's innings.
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