Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoffs hopes alive by beating Chennai Super Kings.
Opting to bat first, CSK posted a modest 144/6 on the board. It was a disappointing batting display as no batter managed to hit a fifty. Shivam Dube was the top scorer with 48 not out off 34 balls.
In reply, the Knight Riders got off to a terrible start as they lost their top three for just 33 runs. However, the duo of Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh added 99 runs for the fourth wicket to put the visitors in a commanding position.
While Rinku got run out after scoring 54 off 43 balls, Rana (57* off 44) stayed till the end to take KKR over the finishing line with 9 deliveries to spare.
It was KKR’s first victory in Chennai in 11 years as they kept their playoffs hopes alive in the ongoing IPL season.
After the game, Kolkata skipper Nitish Rana heaped praise on the spinners, saying that the credit for their win goes to them.
Sunil Narine starred with the ball for KKR, returning with the figures of 2 for 15 in his four overs. Varun Chakaravarthy also claimed a couple of wickets by conceding 36 runs in his four-over spell.
“I want to give credit to the spinners. The way they bowled, I was in doubt to give the four overs on a trot to Sunil but he said he will bowl and he scalped a wicket,” said Rana at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Nitish also credited coach Chandrakant Pandit as he suggested the captain to use the heavy roller ahead of the second innings.
“As I said in the toss too, if we do well in the three departments then we can win the match. I think the credit goes to Chandu sir as he said me to take the heavy roller; I was not in favor of that though. I felt the heavy roller might break the pitch, but it went in our way as the pitch settled after the roller was rolled,” he added.
Rana went on to say that every team has a home advantage except KKR as they play on pitches where 200+ scores are the norm.
“I think every team has a home advantage except KKR. We play on good pitches and score 200 and 200+ runs and on the other day, we play on slower pitches, and the scores are low. I think this shows the real quality of the batter to adjust to all the conditions,” he stated.
Kolkata Knight Riders will host Lucknow Super Giants in their last league match at the Eden Gardens on Saturday (May 20).