Indore: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) produced a superlative batting performance as they comfortably beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 31 runs to stay in contention for a play-off berth in IPL-XI, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here, Saturday.
On a batting belter, KKR posted a mammoth 245 for six, their highest ever IPL total and fourth-highest in the history of the league. Sunil Narine (75, 36b, 9×4, 4×6) provided the platform for Chris Lynn (24), Robin Uthappa (27), skipper Dinesh Karthik (50, 23b, 5×4, 3×6) and Andre Russell (31, 14b, 2×4, 3×6) to give the innings a huge impetus.
The chase was always going to be difficult. KL Rahul (66, 28b, 2×4, 7×6) tried his best but it was a huge mountain for him to climb. Aaron Finch (34, 20b, 3×6) and skipper Ravi Ashwin (45, 22b, 4×4, 3×6) provided some later over fireworks, but by then the asking rate had climbed to over 20 per over and KXIP finished at 214 for eight.
After losing by 102 runs against Mumbai Indians, the victory not only enabled KKR reach 12 points from as many games but also helped them improve upon their net run-rate. KXIP on the other hand will be worried after their back-to-back defeats in Jaipur and now here.
Narine was once again their match-winner for his stellar knock and also getting the important wicket of the dangerous Rahul, who has now completed 500 runs in this IPL.
Narine and Lynn added 53 in 5.2 overs before the Queenslander was dismissed. However the next partnership between Narine and Robin Uthappa yielded 75 runs in 6.1 overs. Narine reached his 50 in just 26 balls.
Barinder Sran got a harsh treatment in the 11th over when Narine hit him for two sixes and a boundary.
The 12th over of the innings was the best one for KXIP as their best bowler Andrew Tye (2/41) got rid of both Narine and Uthappa. KKR were 130 for three at that stage but skipper Karthik in company of Russell took the KXIP attack to the cleaners and put on 76 runs for the fourth wicket in a mere 5.1 overs.
The likes of Shubman Gill (16, 8b), Nitish Rana (11, 4b) helped KKR get close to the 250-run mark.
KXIP started in earnest with Rahul hitting Narine for two sixes in the very first over. However, the constant fall of wickets at the other hand increased the pressure on him.
Chris Gayle (21) couldn’t play an impactful innings being dismissed by Russell (3/41). With Mayank Agarwal (3) and Karun Nair (0) falling cheaply, KXIP were quickly out of the reckoning.
Brief scores: KKR 245/6 (Sunil Narine 75, Dinesh Karthik 50; Andrew Tye 4/41) beat KXIP 214/8 (KL Rahul 66, Ravi Ashwin 45; Andre Russell 3/41, Prashid Krishna 2/31) by 31 runs.
